Virginia Drunk Driving Defense

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Attorney Offices by Municipality

Alexandria
Altavista
1. Berger & Thornhill: No lawyer can validly promise you a certain result in your case. Success depends on numerous factors that can be unpredictable. However, a lawyer can promise you his hard work, provide you with the benefit of his years of experience, diligently use all of his abilities, and give your case his personal care. These things often make the difference. In selecting your lawyer, find someone who cares about both you and your case.
  1. Did the police officer legally stop you?
  2. Were you properly advised of your rights?
  3. Did the police officer have the authority to arrest you or issue a warrant?
  4. Is the evidence sufficient for a conviction?
  5. Was the equipment used by the police properly tested and calibrated?
  6. Are all of your prior convictions valid?
  7. Did the police officer follow proper procedures?
  8. Does your evidence dispute the officer's testimony?
  Other defenses to DUI/DWI, reckless driving, and other traffic charges may exist based on the facts of your case.
Annandale
Arlington
Ashland
1. Campbell & Campbell: Any traffic infraction that is deemed a moving violation may result in the assignment of points by the division of motor vehicles in the state where you are licensed. These points directly impact your insurance premiums. Some offenses can also result in the suspension of your drivers license or jail time. If you are from out of state, you can lose your right to drive through Virginia and possibly also lose your driving privileges at home through reciprocity agreements between states.
Bedford
1. Shoen, Darren: Criminal charges can be devastating to the lives of individuals as well as their families. Incarceration, severe fines, permanent criminal records, along with a host of other serious penalties can result from being charged with a crime or serious traffic offense.
Bristol
1. Fleenor, Douglas: In Virginia, operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or other drugs may result in being charged with drunk driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol, drunk driving, drinking and driving is commonly referred to as a DUI or DWI. OWI is operating while intoxicated. Depending on the state you have been charged in, the charging document may refer to the charge as a DUI, DWI or OUI. Another type of offense is a DUID. DUID is driving under the influence of drug(s) or a combination of alcohol and drugs. Regardless of whether you have been charged with a DUI, DWI, OWI or DUID, the penalties are very serious in Virginia. The penalties you receive from the court is only the beginning. You stand to lose your job, pay an exorbitant rate for car insurance, lose your ability to drive either completely or have your driving privileges extremely restricted. The courts have had a lot of pressure put on them lately to not give any kind of break to those charged with an offense where alcohol and driving are involved. These laws apply not only to automobiles, but also to boats and aircraft as well.
Charlottesville
1. Weber, Charles: DUI/DWI charges can lead to serious consequences, including jail time, court costs, fees for programs like the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), placement of an ignition interlock system on your car, and restriction or revocation of your driver's license. If you have been arrested or charged with drunk driving it is important to seek the help of an experience criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Chesapeake
Chesterfield
Colonial Heights
1. KuchinskyÊ& Yeamans: If you have been charged with a crime, the choice you make in a lawyer can affect the rest of your life.
Danville
1. Williams, Morrison, Light & Moreau: If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI, you face serious potential consequences in the criminal courts of Virginia. With an experienced attorney at your side, you can fight the charges you face and keep your license. Regardless of your prior criminal record, a first-offense DUI in Virginia could mean a penalty of up to $2,500 in fines, twelve months in jail, and a year's loss of license. If you had a blood alcohol level above .15, you face a mandatory five days in jail. Anything above a .20 will result in a mandatory ten days in jail. That is why it is so important to do everything you can to lower the charges you face and minimize the potential consequences.
2. Angela Hamlet: The consequences of a criminal conviction can be devastating for you and your family.
Dinwiddie
1. Chappell, John: # If you were involved in an accident and charged with reckless driving, there are frequently ways to have the charges reduced or dismissed. # If you are involved in a traffic accident and are found to be at fault, we will fight any criminal charges that you may face. # If you are a commercial driver and get a traffic ticket, don't just pay the fine. Traffic violations affect your CDL and can cost you your job.
Dublin
1. Angie Morris: The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that criminal defendants have a right to the assistance of counsel. Courts have interpreted this to mean that criminal defendants have a right to an attorney during all critical stages throughout the criminal process. In addition, before a defendant is permitted to proceed to trial without a lawyer, the challenges and dangers of doing so must be "rigorously conveyed" to the defendant.
Falls Church
Fairfax
Fredericksburg
Glen Allen
1. Innsbrook Law Group: n Richmond and throughout Virginia, you can be arrested for driving while intoxicated if law enforcement suspects you of operating your motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogen or habit-producing drug. The legal threshold for blood alcohol content (BAC) is a concentration of 0.08 or above.
2. Eddy Rice: A DUI/DWI, having your drivers license suspended or revoked, or another major traffic conviction can have a major impact on your life. A license suspension or revocation can happen when a driver receives several minor tickets or, in some cases, one serious ticket or convictionsuch as a DWI / DUI or a reckless driving conviction.
Hampton
Harrisonburg
Herndon
1. Stephen Conte: Maryland has a subsequent offender law which acts to enhance penalties on subsequent offences, that is, after notice by the State to seek such enhancment of penalties.
2. John Partridge: While first time DUI offenders may be eligible to receive a restricted driver's license, a restricted driver's license will limit you to very specific types of travel. You will not be able to drive to church, your children to school or even for family emergencies. Those caught driving on a suspended driver's license are regularly sent to jail.
Hillsville
1. McGrady & McGrady: Out-of-state drivers, as well as local commuters, sometimes need a good criminal defense lawyer when they are charged with a DUI / DWI, speeding ticket, or reckless driving in Virginia. On Interstate 77 or other roads, drivers who are stopped may be charged with: * Driving while intoxicated * Driving under the influence * Speeding * Reckless driving * Following too closely * Failure to yield right of way Whether you are driving a car, motorcycle, tractor-trailer, or other type of vehicle, these charges can have a damaging effect on your driverâs license, insurance, and future job situation
2. Jackson & Associates: If you have been charged with a DUI/DWI in Virginia, you need the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect your rights. Not having an experienced attorney can cost you a significant amount of money in court fines and fees and can result in other serious consequences such as loss of driving privileges or incarceration.
King George
1. Richmond Low: If you are facing drunk driving or drug charges, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer making sure your constitutional rights are protected. I have extensive experience representing people arrested or charged with all types of driving offenses such as drunk driving (DUI / DWI).
King William
1. Jonathan Gatewood: A drunk driving charge is a serious matter. You need a serious attorney to defend you against the charge.
Leesburg
Lexington
1. Hardenbergh, Charles: Latest Cop Busted for DUI: Yakima Washington's Tarin Miller Well folks, it looks like it's happened again. Everybody knows that alcohol is a drug. And when it comes to the distribution of narcotics, no cartel in the world can compare to the United States Government and it's political subdivisions, the states. Billions in revenue are derived by these governments through the sale of alcohol, the most pervasive substance of abuse in the Western World. It's ironic that the states sell this drug, and then expect that people who use their product as intended will make good decisions. Officer Tarin Miller allegedly blew a BAC over 0.16% alcohol, which is more than twice the legal limit! Why do law enforcement officers keep getting arrested for DUI? Don't they get exposure to the constant barrage of warnings against drinking and driving? Don't they hear the alcohol manufacturer's warnings to "drink responsibly"? Wait a minute. How can you drink responsibly? When people drink, their inhibitions and judgment are reduced. Can people abuse recreational substances responsibly? Or is this just a false plea from the dealers who really don't care whether you are responsible, as long as you keep drinking and they keep profiting? The truth is that cops are just like the rest of us. Nobody wants to drive drunk. But the government keeps selling us recreational drugs and allowing the manufacturers to advertise these substances on our airwaves. I hope the allegations are somehow false and Tarin Miller is actually innocent. Perhaps a good DUI lawyer can keep her out of jail. But on the other hand, one has to wonder why the state of Washington allows people to drive cars without ignition interlocks. If nobody could drive drunk, there would be no DUIs, no injuries, no deaths, and tremendous tax savings from the reduced need for police resources. Could it be that the state actually wants continued DUI problems in order to keep selling more alcohol to drivers, to keep employing more police, and to keep getting more DUI fines? Hmmmm.
Louden County
1. Walker Law Firm: If you have been charged with a DUI/DWI, you need an experienced Loudoun DUI lawyer who knows the law, the Leesburg Virginia Court's local rules, and who will fight for you. The punishment can be harsh without an attorney defending you.
Lovingston
1. Berry & Maddox: A person commits the offense of speeding when he or she operates a motor vehicle at a speed that is in excess of the speed that is permitted under state statutes, local ordinances, or highway or traffic regulations.
Lynchburg
1. Cunninghan & Drewry: Few people know how to react when they are arrested. The fear and confusion can be overwhelming. It is important to make good decisions and protect yourself. The advice of an experienced criminal defense lawyer can help you through this difficult time.
2. Sidney Kirstein: It is important to have an attorney on your side that will fight to protect your constitutional rights in any criminal proceeding. Do not wait until you are convicted to hire an experienced attorney to defend your rights.
Manassas
McLean
1. Roche, Brien: The standard of proof in a criminal case is what is referred to as proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a higher standard than either preponderance of the evidence or the clear and convincing standard. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean that the jury has to be absolutely certain of the defendantÕs guilt, but if a juror has a reasonable doubt as to whether the defendant is guilty then that juror should vote not guilty. Since a unanimous verdict is required in most jurisdictions in a criminal case, one juror with reasonable doubt can hang up a jury and prevent the government from getting a conviction. If the jury deliberations result in an eleven to one vote in favor of conviction (guilty), then typically the trial court will, on motion of the government, declare a mistrial and thereby allow the government to re-try the case.
Midlothian
1. Allen, Suzan: Traffic Offenses It can happen in an instant and it can happen to anyone. You are driving down the highway, following the flow of traffic and the police officer's radar or laser gun falls on you. It is a helpless feeling because it's your word against that of a police officer's and the officer has the radar gun or the laser gun. It may seem impossible to challenge the citation. I handle most types of traffic tickets, from speeding and reckless driving to failure to use due caution to DUI/DWI. Many of my clients are commercial truckers traveling through Virginia. If you are an out-of-state driver, I may be able to make your appearances for you, so that you will not need to return to Virginia. Other Criminal Defense Matters I also defend men and women on criminal charges involving * Drugs or controlled substances o Possession o Sale and trafficking o Manufacture or cultivation * Assault and/or battery * Theft offenses o Robbery o Burglary o Grand or petty larceny * Probation violations
2. Jennings & Jennnings: Vehicular Manslaughter € Driving Under The Influence € Reckless Driving The laws of Virginia are unique - if you are charged with causing a car accident here, you need a Virginia criminal defense attorney. Charges may be reduced or dropped altogether when the facts are carefully analyzed and properly presented to the court. You should not be held responsible for a serious charge you don't deserve.
Newport News
Norfolk
Oakton
1. Mark Nicewicz: Traffic offenses can threaten one of the liberties you hold dear – the ability to drive your car from point A to point B whenever you feel like it. The alternative is waiting for a train, bus, or subway. If you have too many speeding tickets, reckless driving, DWI, and other serious traffic offenses on your record, the alternative may soon become your reality. Law enforcement officers have a duty to comply with a set of procedures in order for a ticket or arrest to be legal. Far too many people are not aware of the technicalities in the law that may lead to a ticket being thrown out or kept off your permanent driving record.
2. Stephen Gold: A ticket for driving under the influence of alcohol can result in loss of driving privileges and even a jail sentence.
Portsmouth
1. Von Piersall: D.U.I., Criminal Defense The Virginia General Assembly has recently enacted very strict D.U.I. laws. If you have been charged with a D.U.I., or any traffic offense, there are a number of possible remedies.
Reston
1. Truax, Nancy: If you are charged with a crime, you need an attorney to protect your rights. You cannot be found guilty of a crime unless the CommonwealthÕs Attorney proves your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The constitution provides you with many rights and protections throughout the criminal process, including the right to an attorney, the right to be free from unlawful search and seizure, the right to remain silent. If the police violate these rights, you may be able to have the evidence gathered as a result of the violation excluded, and without that evidence, the Commonwealth may have no alternative but to dismiss the charges. In many (if not most) cases, the defendant and the Commonwealth enter into a plea agreement in which the Commonwealth agrees to reduce or dismiss certain charges in exchange for the defendantÕs agreement to plead guilty to the lesser charge. Additionally, while the CommonwealthÕs Attorney cannot guarantee what the ultimate punishment in a plea bargain case will be, the agreement can contain a provision where the CommonwealthÕs Attorney agrees to recommend a particular sentence, agrees not to object to a particular sentence requested by the defendant, or agrees that a particular sentence is the appropriate sentence in that case. The Court may accept or reject the agreement, but if the agreement is rejected, the defendant may withdraw the plea. With respect to the sentence, the judge is not bound by the recommendations by the CommonwealthÕs Attorney or the request of the defendant, and must notify the defendant of that fact. Depending on the charges, the court can sentence the defendant to confinement in jail or prison, can suspend all or part of the confinement, and can order the defendant into probation. The court can also order restitution or community service.
2. Jay Myerson: If you have been charged with DWI, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Richmond
Roanoke
Salem
1. Phillips & Phillips: Child Custody Criminal Law Divorce DUI Family Law Juvenile Law Personal Injury Traffic Violations Wrongful Death
2. Bosen, Harry: A drunk driving arrest and conviction can be of profound consequence to your daily life. It also can have a negative impact on your life for years to come. Not only might you lose your driving privileges, but you could also lose your job and be barred from future employment. Your insurance rates will skyrocket, and there is the potential for jail time with a second or third offense. In Virginia, DUI or driving under the influence (of alcohol, drugs or a combination of both) is a class 1 misdemeanor: * Anyone convicted of DUI is required by law to lose his or her license for one year or longer for repeat offenses * Maximum punishment includes a $2,500 fine and one year in jail. * Anyone convicted is also required to participate in the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), a drunk driving education program that costs $300. The consequences escalate with repeat offenses. For example, someone convicted of a fourth drunk driving offense within 10 years of a prior conviction is subject to a mandatory one-year jail sentence.
3. Ray Byrd: Either the prosecution or the defense may present evidence at a defendant's sentencing hearing. If the prosecution presents evidence, it is generally in the form of the defendant's prior criminal record or the defendant's bad reputation and bad character.
4. David Walker
5. Thomas Bowers: In criminal cases, time is important. You have a limited number of appearances before your case will be scheduled for trial. You have the right to have your attorney present at each of those appearances.
Silver Spring, MD
1. Marks & Katz: Surprise is a common response my clients have to their first arrest for driving while intoxicated. Sometimes the surprise is because the person is simply not guilty. Often, however, the person did drink over the legal limit, but just did not realize that it does not take much alcohol to make a person culpable of driving while intoxicated.
Spotsylvania
1. Leigh Gettier: Death as a punishment for a crime is not itself unconstitutional. Death is not automatically regarded as cruel and unusual, but the way it is applied must meet very specific requirements. For example, a state may not impose the death penalty if society generally agrees that the death penalty is inappropriate for that particular crime. But if the state provides rational guidelines to help juries decide if the death penalty is appropriate, and if the jury is allowed to take in mitigating factors, then application of the death penalty will probably be upheld.
Springfield
Stafford
1. Robert Hyman: Traffic tickets can result in serious consequences, including the establishment of a criminal record. There are options available, especially for first-time offenders, to help you keep a clean record. It is important for you to work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer, even on misdemeanor charges.
2. George Marzloff: For those convicted of a first offense Driving Under the Influence, Virginia law mandates a one-year loss of driving privileges. In most cases, we can assist you, if convicted, in obtaining a restricted permit to drive to and from work and during work, if necessary.
1. Ives & Associates: ...if you are facing a driving while intoxicated ("DWI") charge, reckless driving charge, or if you have already had your license suspended or revoked, you should seriously consider retaining an attorney to represent you in court. DWI and reckless driving charges can result in your loss of license for a year or more. Since we have become a mobile society, it is very difficult to retain employment if you cannot drive to and from, and during, work hours.
Tidewater
1. Paul Sutton II: A person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle in Virginia will be suspended administratively for ten days upon their arrest for DUI.
Unknown
1. Miller-Cerasuolo, Brandi: DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving In Virginia Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a CRIMINAL CHARGE which carries a possible penalty of jail time, fines, suspension of licenses and other sanctions. A lawyer can defend your rights and potentially have the charged dismissed. Virginia DUI Conviction Ğ What does that mean for you? A First Offense DUI... Is a class 1 misdemeanor that carries a mandatory minimum fine of $250 and a maximum fine of $2500 All first offenders convicted will be required to complete the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP or ASAP) All convicted of a DUI first offense will have their license suspended for at least one year. A first offense DUI conviction may also receive jail time. The maximum time one can be sentenced to jail is one year. There is no minimum jail time required if your BAC was between .08 and .14, however if your BAC was between .15 and .20 and you are convicted you must serve at least 5 days. If your BAC was .20 or higher you must serve at least 10 days. In addition if your BAC was .15 or more an Ignition Interlock System (IIS) will be mandated on any car registered to you for a period of at lest six months. You may not drive any commercial vehicle during the time that IIS is mandated for you. Drunk Driving is no joke. In addition to court imposed penalties a DUI conviction in Virginia carries other serious consequences. A Virginia DUI conviction means that you will have a criminal record. This can prevent you from obtaining a job as many employers do routine background checks on applicants. You will have to answer that you have been convicted of a crime on applications for jobs or credit. It can prevent you from serving in law enforcement and it can cost you thousands of dollars in increased insurance premiums. Second, third and fourth offenses... If you have prior DUI convictions within the previous 10 years you will face mandatory jail time and fines among other consequences. This is one of the reasons it is essential to get a lawyer who can defend your rights. Because if you are convicted of Drunk Driving this time the next time the consequences will be much more severe. Driving Under the Influence, Driving While Intoxocated and Drunk Driving are diffrent names for the same crime.
2. Doug Crockett: You or someone you care for has been charged with a crime or theyÕve received a citation from an officer of the law. What should you do? ÊÊ The defendant has protections in the law.ÊTrust your instincts. If you feel something about what took place seems unusual or unfair, or if the stakes are just too high to plead guilty without trying then call an attorney who will leave no stone unturnedÊtoÊhelp.
Vinton
1. Jesse Shelor: In addition to the right to counsel during interrogation under the self-incrimination privilege of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, a person has a right to the assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution when the person is being interrogated after he or she is formally charged with an offense.
Virginia Beach
Warrenton
1. Mark Williams: Crime is that conduct which our society and our government have determined is dangerous to the community and other citizens. Laws are set in place to protect society from criminal behavior, and those laws include punishment such as fines and prison time. While laws exist to protect society from criminal behavior, the individual rights and freedoms of those accused of committing crimes are also protected by the constitution, and state and federal laws. If you are facing criminal charges in the state of Virginia, you may be scared, confused and unsure of what your rights are. You need a Virginia criminal defense lawyer who understands the laws intended to protect your constitutional rights.
2. Ann Callaway: Any criminal charge must be vigorously defended against. A criminal conviction can result in harsh consequences from fines to jail or prison time. If you have been charged with a crime, you have rights that must be protected.
Williamsburg
1. Randall Stone: What will happen if I have more than one DUI/DWI conviction? What will happen to you depends upon what state you are in. In most jurisdictions, there is a "step-up" method for handling multiple DUI/DWI convictions for the same person. In some states, a person will be required to pay a fine and perhaps serve a minimum term of imprisonment for a first conviction in addition to having their license suspended. For a second offense, some states may increase the fines and imprisonment or term of suspension. Additional offenses may result in revocation of a license, incarceration and the loss of driving privileges for life. In addition, in some states, a judge may order that the offender participate in an alcohol or drug treatment and education program. Of course, if you seriously injure or kill another person while operating under the influence, you may face additional charges and civil lawsuits.
Winchester
1. Fowler, Griffin, Coyne, Coyne & Patton: Come July 1, 1999, there is good news and bad news for drivers with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) convictions on their driving records. The good news is that effective July 1, there will be no more habitual offender declarations in Virginia. The bad news is that a third offense DUI will now be a felony.
Woodbridge

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