If you are charged with a DWI or a DUI, you may be facing a wide range of penalties and may have many legal obstacles to overcome. You need to learn as much as you can about the charges, your rights and the possible items that may be brought up against you in court.
To find out more about possible penalties, constitutional and legal issues you may face as well as what to expect from a field sobriety test click here.
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If you are caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will face serious consequences in Virginia, including possible DUI or DWI charges. It is illegal to drive when your ability to safely operate any motor vehicle is impaired. You could face these charges not only for alcohol use, but if you take certain prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines, as well as if you take illegal drugs.
You may also face these charges outside of just operating a car, truck or van. DUI and DWI charges can apply to motor vehicles such as motorcycles, boats and ATVs among others.
Anyone with a blood alcohol level of more than .08 in Virginia will be considered above the legal limit to drive and may face charges. Additionally, if an underage driver is found to have a blood alcohol level of more than .02, he may face charges as well.
The maximum punishment for a first-time offender is one year in jail, a $2,500 fine along with a suspended license for one year. If you are facing DUI or DWI charges, you need experienced Virginia DUI attorneys to preserve your rights.
Oftentimes, first-time offenders may get more lenient sentences as long as their blood-alcohol levels are below .15 and they did not cause an accident. 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 DUI charge or DWI charge or conviction is considered much more serious as well as DUI charges or DWI charges involving blood alcohol levels greater than .15 and greater than .20.
If you are facing charges related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you need the legal expertise of the law offices of Anderson & Wooditch, PC. With 23 years of experience as Virginia DWI lawyers, we can begin working immediately on fighting for your rights.
Contact an experienced Virginia DWI attorney today for your free case evaluation.
For more in depth information about DWI/DUI visit our site: http://pnalawdwidefense.com/
