Virginia DUI & Traffic Violations

DUI charges in Virginia are a serious matter. You could lose your license on a first offense. The penalties for a traffic violation may also include fines of up to $2,500, probation and jail sentences of up to a year. Citizens who represent themselves in DUI cases are more likely to receive harsher sentences than those that work with a specialist DUI attorney. An experienced attorney can help present your case in the best possible light, helping you fight the charges against you, eventually saving you money and time.

The right DUI attorney will begin by reviewing the case brought against you, inspecting each detail of the arrest and analyzing the evidence, seeking possible ways of having the charges dismissed. A competent and experienced DUI attorney will be able to compare the details of your case with previous cases and use their knowledge of the law to help you formulate a strong defense. A number of different factors will be examined such as scrutinizing the blood alcohol (BAC) testing that was administered to you, making sure that the proper guidelines were followed. Another possibility is that the equipment used was faulty, rendering the machine's readout moot. The procedures used during the DUI arrest will be explored for improprieties or any other factors that could lead to your case being overturned.

If you are facing a second or subsequent DUI, remember that the penalties increase dramatically. A third DUI could mean a felony conviction, which brings with it certain additional legal ramifications, making it harder to find work or even a place to live. Felony charges are treated much differently in Virginia than regular traffic violations, and trying to contest these charges without the assistance of a DUI attorney can be a costly and irreparable mistake.

A person charged with a DUI in Virginia who is under 21 will face special penalties and be under the umbrella of specific laws. Rather than the .08% Blood Alcohol Content threshold maintained for drivers over the age of 21, underage drivers are subject to a BAC of .02%, which in some cases can be reached after only one drink. Those individuals or their legal guardians should contact a respected DUI attorney immediately. An attorney who has worked with clients under 21 whom have been charged with a DUI will know the particular processes and legalities that can make all the difference. Other traffic violations must be treated with the same level of care. Speeding tickets and other traffic violations that seem minor can be detrimental either when they accumulate over time in the form of repeat offenses or an incident can be severe enough on its own to warrant the hiring of an attorney. Penalties in Virginia for repeat offenses can result in you losing your license. Paying fines for speeding tickets and other traffic violations is tantamount to an admission of guilt and can negatively affect your insurance rates and lead to higher premiums.

Depending on the circumstances, the result of traffic violations can be serious. If you are found at fault in an accident as a result of a traffic violation, property or individual damages could compound your financial hardship. Personal injury claims alone can be devastating if paid out of pocket and can also raise your risk profile causing your insurance premiums to soar.

Hiring an attorney for a DUI, speeding tickets, or other traffic violations can be a smart move for those very reasons. The cost of hiring a capable attorney is quite low when weighed against the consequences of not hiring one. The attorneys at Vienna Law Group (www.viennalawgroup.com) can assist you in fighting any DUIs, speeding tickets or other traffic violations you might have. .