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Woodbridge DUI Lawyers

  1. Ryland & Merchak: No one wants to be convicted of drunk driving. Given the traffic in the Washington, D.C. area, it is nearly impossible to get around without a drivers license. Virtually every year, the Virginia state legislature increases the severity of DWI laws. A drunken driving conviction can stay on your driving record for years.
  2. Johnson & Flores: Given the influence exerted by interest groups, the political climate, and the DUI statutes designed for conviction in any situation, your need for an experienced trial lawyer is greater now than ever. The prosecution is less likely to reduce charges against defendants charged with driving under the influence today than ever before. You will need an attorney willing to take the matter to trial if necessary. Often, the prosecution is only willing to discuss reducing the criminal charges to a reckless driving charge when they know that the defense is willing to fight. Be prepared to fight for your driving record. By statute, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth of Virginia while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Under the influence is defined as having a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of .08 or greater. The prosecution can also seek a conviction without having a registered BAC. The court will rely on testimony from the arresting officer as to the DefendantÕs condition at the time of the arrest. A strong cross-examination by your attorney is imperative in this situation. * If you have a BAC of .15 to .20, there is a mandatory 5 day jail sentence * A BAC of greater than .20 requires a mandatory 10 day jail sentence [Return to top] Multiple DUI offenses If you have been convicted of prior driving under the influence charges, you are subject to elevated jail sentences. Consult with an attorney immediately so that your rights can be protected. Federal DUIs Because of the proximity to our nationÕs capital, Prince William contains a high percentage of federal land, or land owned by the United States government. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a federal crime if it occurs on federal land. Federal land could be a military instillation such as Fort Belvoir or Quantico or in a National Park. When a person is arrested for a DUI on such land, it is considered a Federal DUI. Different laws govern different typed of federally owned land. * DUIs on National Park lands are prosecuted by the National Park Service. Under the laws of the NPS, DUIs are misdemeanors punishable by up to six months in jail, $2,500.00 fine, and probation for up to five years * DUIs on military instillations are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia Potential Consequences of a DUI Conviction If you are convicted on a DUI or drunken driving charge, you face the following potential consequences: * Suspension or revocation of your driver's license * Fines of up to $2,500 * Loss of security clearance at restricted governmental facilities * Increased insurance premiums * Jail time * Installation of an ignition interlock device
  3. Scott Swajger: ÊMost people rarely need a lawyer and as a result donÕt know how to begin to find a skilled attorney. Legal skill and knowledge are critical. However, legal skill and knowledge are only part of the game. An attorney must also be skilled in the art of persuasion and above all he must have a lot of court room experience. At the end of the day the attorney you choose must be able to persuade others to your point of view. An attorney without Òcourt room presenceÓ will rarely prevail. Look for an attorney with knowledge, skilled persuasion ability and above all, EXPERIENCE.
  4. Richmond & Burns: The penalties for being found guilty of (or of pleading guilty to) driving while intoxicated are severe.Ê The include: a) a minimum six month loss of all driving privileges. (There is no work license permitted in the State of New Jersey.), b) fines payable of approximately $700, c) state insurance surcharges of $3,000 payable at the rate of $1,000 per year for three years.Ê Additionally, one can expect his automobile insurance to increase approximately $1,000 per year for three years depending on the particular company providing the coverage. Currently the State obtains a conviction in 86% of the cases where a driving while intoxicated ticket was written.Ê An individual who receives a driving while intoxicated ticket has two choices:Ê To plead guilty and instantly become part of the 86% conviction rate, or to fight the charges.
  5. Ed Riley:
    The ignition interlock program requires that a device be installed on the vehicles of persons convicted of DUI upon eligibility of reinstatement for a permanent or restricted driver license. The device is also required if an individual applies for a restricted license for work after a DUI conviction.

    What are the costs?
    A person convicted of DUI and falling under this program will have to pay for
    Installation
    Refundable deposit
    Monthly monitoring/installation
       

    If the court determines that an individual convicted of DUI is incapable of paying for the ignition interlock device, the court may order that part of the penalty fine paid by that individual be applied to the cost of the device.
     
    Device Specifications:
    Incapacitates vehicle ignition with a BAC of .05 or higher
    Capable of random retesting when vehicle is in operation
    Data accessible through Web-base reporting 24 x 7
    Totally funded by person convicted of DUI
       
      *This data is for background purposes and is not meant as a complete resource. It is for informational purposes only.
  6. Ryland & Merchak:

    We understand that individuals and families facing drunk driving charges in Virginia are probably feeling angry and frightened about what has taken place. Those feelings are understandable because the consequences of a drunk driving conviction in Virginia are serious. Possible sanctions include:

    1. Alcohol highway safety school
    2. Arrest and alcohol treatment costs
    3. Cancellation of insurance
    4. Community service and probation
    5. Criminal record
    6. Fines and forfeitures
    7. Increased insurance rates
    8. Jail or prison sentence
    9. Suspension or loss of driver's license
    10. Vehicle forfeiture or loss
  7. Boone, Beale, Cosby and Long: 28,044 persons were convicted for DUI in 2001. When you face your DUI charge, do you want to be a statistic, or do you want your case handled by experienced DUI professionals, who have built their careers practicing in the state of Virginia?
  8. Casey Stevens: Some attorneys see drunk driving cases as a quick way to make a buck. Their strategy: plea, plea, plea.
  9. Burkhardt Beale:
     
     

    •  Psychophysical tests should require evaluation of the subject's appearance and condition, ability to follow instructions, as well as balance and coordination. These types of tests are called Divided Attention Tests. They require the subject to concentrate on more than one thing at a time. They divide the subject's attention between mental and physical tasks.

     

    •  Studies have shown that a person who is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage may be able to perform one of these tasks but rarely both. If under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, people are likely to make certain predictable errors while attempting these tasks.

     

    •  Since the mid 1970's, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with the cooperation and assistance of the law enforcement community, has conducted research that resulted in the development of a battery of three standardized field sobriety tests (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn and the One Leg Stand) to assist police officers in detecting impaired drivers. These tests, formerly referred to as Improved Sobriety Tests, are now the Standard that the Federal Government wants to be utilized and is in fact taught by the New Jersey State Police.

     

    •  The program, which was previously termed the Improved Sobriety Testing, was validated in laboratory and field studies conducted by the Southern California Research Institute. These tests were initially developed by the Los Angeles Police Department Training in how to conduct the tests is included in the NHTSA course "DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing."

  10. Szabo, Zelnick & Erickson: Like all criminal charges in Virginia, the Commonwealth has the burden of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a significant burden for the Commonwealth to hurdle. Issues frequently arise concerning the initial stop of the automobile, probable cause to arrest, the results of any field sobriety tests and the test measuring the driverÕs blood alcohol content. If you have been charged with driving while intoxicated, it makes sense to review your case with an experience attorney who can advise you as to how your situation can best be handled.
  11. Weis & Wilson: DWI/DUI is a serious offense which carries a potential sentence of up to 12 months in jail and/or up to a $2,500 fine, 12 month suspension of driver's license, ASAP classes and payment of court costs. Also, a conviction will result in 6 demerit points on your driving record for 11 years. Second offense DWI carries even more severe penalties and third offense DWI/DUI is a Class 6 Felony with the possibility of five years in prison.
  12. Richmond & Burns: The penalties for being found guilty of (or of pleading guilty to) driving while intoxicated are severe.Ê The include: a) a minimum six month loss of all driving privileges. (There is no work license permitted in the State of New Jersey.), b) fines payable of approximately $700, c) state insurance surcharges of $3,000 payable at the rate of $1,000 per year for three years.Ê Additionally, one can expect his automobile insurance to increase approximately $1,000 per year for three years depending on the particular company providing the coverage. Currently the State obtains a conviction in 86% of the cases where a driving while intoxicated ticket was written.Ê An individual who receives a driving while intoxicated ticket has two choices:Ê To plead guilty and instantly become part of the 86% conviction rate, or to fight the charges. Return to Virginia DUI Lawyers