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Virginia's Tough DUI Laws
The state of Virginia has enacted some of the strictest drunk-driving laws in the nation. For any motorist, being familiar with Virginia's policies on driving under the influence (DUI) is beneficial.
June 26, 2011 /Womens Interest PR News/ -- Virginia's Tough DUI Laws
The Commonwealth of Virginia has enacted some of the strictest drunk-driving laws in the nation. For any motorist, being familiar with Virginia's policies on driving under the influence (DUI) is beneficial.
A Criminal Offense with Stiff Penalties
In Virginia, anyone operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher may be arrested and charged with driving under the influence. However, even drivers with BACs lower than .08 may be convicted of DUI if they show signs of impairment or if they are under the age of 21 and the presence of alcohol is detected with a breath or blood test.
The penalties for a first-time DUI conviction are a minimum fine of $250 and revocation of the driver's license for a year, in addition to a mandatory jail term if the driver's BAC was greater than .15 at the time of arrest. For a second DUI conviction, the minimum fine is $500, license revocation is for three years and a jail sentence of up to one year may be imposed.
The penalties for people with three or more DUI convictions are even more strict. A third DUI conviction carries a minimum $1,000 fine, a mandatory six-month period of incarceration, indefinite driver's license suspension and possible prosecution for a Class 6 felony. People with four or more DUI convictions face mandatory jail sentences of at least one year, among other penalties.
Other costs and indirect consequences abound. For example, people with multiple DUI convictions or whose BACs were over .15 must pay for and install an ignition interlock device on every vehicle they operate. Court costs and higher insurance rates stemming from a DUI charge also add to the expense.
Increased Enforcement
Along with heavy penalties, the Virginia Highway Safety Office and law enforcement agencies are cracking down on drunk driving through a number of initiatives. One program, the Checkpoint Strikeforce initiative, allows for weekly DUI checkpoints throughout the state that can result in hundreds of DUI arrests.
The consequences of a DUI conviction can be serious. If you are facing DUI charges, promptly contact a criminal defense lawyer with experience in DUI cases to mount your defense.
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY. DUE TO CONTINUALLY CHANGING LAWS, THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION MAY BE OUTDATED AND NOT 100% ACCURATE. THE CONTENT SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE OR CONSIDERED AS THE LAW. USE DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.
Article provided by The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller
Visit us at www.legaldefense.com
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