Arlington, Virginia DUI Lawyer

Have you or a loved one recently been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Virginia? If so, you need an experienced attorney to help you during this trying time.

Being charged with a DUI in Virginia, is very stressful; the stakes are high and the cases move very fast. The following is an overview of DUI law, however, do not rely on it for legal advice because each case is different. Therefore, it is important to speak to an experienced DUI attorney regarding the specific facts of your case.

A first offense-DUI in Virginia is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, carrying the possibility of up to one year imprisonment, fines up to $2500 and/or license suspensions. Some cases require mandatory jail time upon conviction – these cases are termed “Virginia DUI/DWI Enhanced Punishment” cases.

In Virginia, the following rebuttable presumptions apply as to a driver’s blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of the offense:

• at or less than .05 percent – presumption that the accused was not under the influence of alcohol;

• more than .05 percent but less than .08 percent – no presumption, however, such facts may be considered with other evidence in determining the accused’s guilt or innocence;

• at or above .08 percent – presumption that the accused was under the influence of alcohol.

The penalties for DUI convictions vary depending on the number of times the accused has been convicted for the same offense and his/her BAC at the time of the offense. Additionally, effective July 1, 2012, the court will require that any person convicted of a DUI first offense have an ignition interlock device installed on the vehicle that he/she primarily operates.

At Patel & Williams, our goal is to get you the best result possible given the facts. Our firm skillfully assists clients who are facing DUI charges and have prior DUI offenses. If you have been charged or arrested for DUI in Alexandria, Arlington County, or Fairfax County contact Patel & Williams today.