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Virginia DUI Lawyer

Driving under the influence is one of the most commonly charged crimes in the Commonwealth of Virginia. While receiving an accusation may feel overwhelming, know that a professional Virginia DUI lawyer can help.

According to section 18.2-266 in the Virginia Code, you can be charged with driving under the influence if you are found to be operating a motor vehicle with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.08 or higher.

You can also be charged with a drug-related DUI with a lower BAC if you are found to be under the influence of narcotics or even prescription drugs.

Our website provides access to our experienced Virginia DUI lawyers and helps you make informed decisions in handling the initial phases of your arrest and selecting the right attorney for your defense.

Advantages of an Experienced Virginia DUI Lawyer

A skilled Virginia DUI lawyer can construct a legal defense in order to help you fight to get your charges reduced or even dropped. Your attorney can offer alternatives to jail such as alcohol education classes and community service. Your attorney can also assert defenses such as challenging the functionality of the breathalyzer machine and the protocol for the Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs). Moreover, your attorney will be familiar with the procedures that law enforcement personnel are required to adhere to when arresting, charging, and detaining individuals in a DUI case.

Our team knows that DUI cases are oftentimes complicated. Some factors that may complicate your case include whether this is your second or third DUI charge, how much alcohol you consumed, whether you were underage, and even if you were accused of being under the influence of drugs and not alcohol.

With all of the uncertainty that can surround your case, you can count on a professional Virginia DUI lawyer to provide you with quality representation. Your DUI charge does not have to follow you forever – an experienced Virginia DUI lawyer can work to help you as much as possible.

DUI cases are difficult on a very personal level. A conviction may affect your ability to secure employment, housing, a loan for education, and may even your visitation rights with your children.

The Virginia DUI lawyers with our firm understand what is at stake, and that is why our attorneys are so committed to helping you. There is no need for a DUI offense to get in the way of everything else in your life. Our attorneys have experience in handling criminal charges in Fairfax, and DUIs are no exception to this. So, if you have been charged, contact one of our Fairfax DUI lawyers today. Here is information on:

How a Virginia DUI Lawyer Can Help

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you may be overwhelmed by the charges you are facing. For this reason, it is important to find a DUI attorney who understands your experience and has the ability to help you fight your charge.

If you are arrested for drunk driving, be helpful and cooperative, but do not forget to maintain your right to remain silent until you have spoken to a qualified Virginia DUI lawyer who can begin crafting your defense.

The attorneys with our firm have defended hundreds of drivers against the charges they face. A dedicated Virginia DUI lawyer can provide the support, resources, and knowledge necessary for your defense. Our Virginia DUI lawyers help you fight your DUI charges by:

Evaluating your case and gathering evidence is an important but often overlooked part of an attorney’s job. It is during this phase that they might be able to uncover some important facts that are unique to your case. These include but are not limited to:

The alcohol consumed up to the time of arrest

Any statements that were recorded during the arrest by the officer

What reason the officer had for initially performing the traffic stop

The results of any field sobriety tests that have been performed by the officer during the arrest

The manner in which the breath test was administered, and whether or not the office complied with the proper procedure

A weathered Virginia DUI lawyer will look critically at each one of these events to make sure that you were treated within your rights, and that no mistakes were made by the arresting officer that could damage the Commonwealth’s case. When you visit with our attorneys for a free consultation, make sure to bring all evidence of the case with you. It is important that they understand every aspect of the case to better help you.

Penalties For DUI in Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia takes DUI arrests very seriously. As a result, the penalties that accompany a DUI conviction can dramatically affect your life moving forward. Drunk driving laws in Virginia are complicated because there are so many different distinctions between charges. It is important to work with experienced DUI lawyers in Virginia to understand these complications. Penalties increase both with the amount of prior drunk driving convictions on a driver’s record and with the offender’s BAC is at the time of arrest. Subsequent violations, as well as more egregious violations of the BAC standards, will make fighting a DUI charge more difficult.

First-Time DUI

A first-time conviction carries with it a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. If your BAC is between .15 and .21 at the time of your arrest, the Commonwealth adds a mandatory minimum jail sentence of five days upon conviction. For a BAC of .21 or above, the additional mandatory minimum jail sentence is 10 days. Your privilege to drive will also be revoked for 12 months. For first-time offenders, a restricted driver’s license may be granted but is usually accompanied by a mandated installation of an ignition interlock device on one’s vehicle. Individuals facing these charges for the first time need to work with Virginia DUI attorneys early on.

Second-Offense DUI

A second conviction within 10 years brings a 10-day minimum jail sentence. If convicted, your license will be suspended for three years. If your BAC is at .15 or above, the mandatory minimum sentence is increased by five or 10 days. For a second conviction within five years of the first, the mandatory minimum sentence is 20 days.

Third-Offense DUI

If you are charged with a third DUI offense within 10 years, it is prosecuted as a felony and carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 90 days. A third DUI offense within five years carries a mandatory minimum sentence of six months. The maximum sentence for this charge is five years. You will lose your license indefinitely and will be facing a minimum fine of $1,000. You may even face forfeiture of your vehicle. For a fourth or subsequent DUI conviction within 10 years, the prosecution may make you face a mandatory minimum of one year in jail.

CDL DUI Penalties

Under section 46.2-341.18 of the Code of Virginia, commercial drivers face the harshest potential penalties from a DUI/DWI conviction. For example, commercial drivers that are convicted of a DUI twice in any ten year period can be forbidden from operating a commercial vehicle on state highways for life.

Long-Term Consequences of DUI Convictions in Virginia

A DUI conviction will also carry some non-judicial penalties, meaning that it could complicate your life for years after the incident. Your insurance rates could escalate, and having a DUI conviction on your record could make it harder to secure employment or find a place to live. When you are facing a criminal charge with penalties this steep, it is important that you find representation from a Virginia DUI lawyer who can fight to protect your rights and pursue a positive result in your case.

Courthouses:

Working with a Virginia DUI Lawyer

If you have any questions about your legal proceedings, your rights throughout the process, or how you should go about preparing for an appearance in court, do not hesitate to reach out to a professional Virginia DUI lawyer as soon as possible to schedule your initial consultation today.

2018 Karin Riley Porter Good Works Scholarship

Criminal lawyers dedicate their lives to helping those in vulnerable positions. As such, Karin Riley Porter wants to support those who also act as leaders in serving others. She is offering a $500 scholarship to one student who best displays a commitment to service.

Client Reviews

By:D.I.

Title:I Got to Walk Away and Go Home

Karin was referred to me by a family member who used her firm’s services. My uncle gave me all of Karin’s information, and even before going into the consultation I knew that she was probably one of the best lawyers in Virginia. Karin was meticulous with my consultation; she wanted to know every detail of the case. She wanted to know how the interaction with law enforcement went, and every little part of the case. She completely dissected what happened that night. Other lawyers don’t really give you as much attention as Karin does. I knew she was good after reading her reviews, but after the initial consultation I knew she was great and there to advocate for me. I was facing DWI, refusal and reckless driving; I was extremely concerned about what could happen to my freedom. My main concern being, how something like this could ruin my life and my family’s life. Karin was excellent after I hired her as well. She immediately answered all my questions and gave me updates on my case constantly. When we went to court, I completely felt like Karin had my best interest in mind. Karin spoke to the prosecutor and arresting officer to get a solid feel of how things are going to go, and she was able to lay out all the options for me. Because of Karin I was able to keep my job, my house, and stay with my family. The result was much better than what I thought would happen. I was facing 3 criminal charges, and I only had to face 1 charge because of Karin. And that charge was … reduced greatly. I was facing up to 6-12 months in Jail, but thanks to Karin Porter I got to walk away and go home, so I can enjoy my free time with my family. I would definitely recommend Karin Porter for anyone who needs a criminal defense attorney in Virginia.

I was facing false allegations, and the Investment in Karin was completely worth it. She presented the case so perfectly to the judge, and argued so well on my behalf. Needless to say my charges were dismissed. Karin was a great Investment, and her assertive and confidence in my case […]

Mrs. Porter was professional and very knowledgeable of my situation (2nd possession of marijuana). When I met her, she had a gracious and positive attitude as well as made me feel like I was her only client. What also impressed me was that she was prepared with a map of […]

Karin was able to work with the DA and the state trooper behind the scenes without me present to get the charges dropped. I was never needed to appear in court, except for a short appearance to acknowledge the charges were dropped. I was very satisfied with the outcome of […]