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In Virginia, it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs or to drive when one's ability to safely operate a vehicle is impaired by alcohol or drugs, including prescription drugs and some over-the-counter drugs.
If a driver has a blood alcohol level above .08 in Virginia, he is considered to be above the legal limit and may face charges.
Furthermore, if an underage driver is found to have a blood alcohol content of more than .02, he may face charges.
The maximum possible punishment for a first offense DWI is one year in jail, a $2,500 fine, and the loss of the privilege to drive for one year.
Generally, first-time offenders with blood alcohol levels below 0.15 who did not cause an accident will not go to jail. Instead, the judge will usually suspend all of the jail time he orders, impose a fine (typically between $250-$600), suspend the driver's license for one year, and place the person on active probation through the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP). Usually, in this type of case, a restricted operator's license can be authorized by the Court to allow the person to drive to and from work, school, child care responsibilities, and health care appointments.
Each additional DWI charge or conviction becomes much more serious as do DWI charges involving blood alcohol levels greater than .15 and greater than .20.
If you are facing DUI or DWI charges, contact the law offices of Patrick N. Anderson in Virginia. Our firm has more than 17 years of successfully representing people charged with all types of criminal and traffic offenses. We are one of Virginia's largest and leading criminal and traffic defense firms. We serve Alexandria and the Northern part of Virginia and we want to help you. We treat each client as part of our family, providing the representation you deserve.
today to set up a free consultation.
VA Law
Federal Law
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