Virginia DUI Consequences
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Federal law prohibits any driver from operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. As a result, lawmakers in all 50 states have passed a number of strict laws to deter motorists from driving under the influence (DUI)—and like most states, Virginia’s laws show little leniency when it comes to DUI penalties. As a result, Virginia DUI consequences include some of the toughest penalties in the nation.
Assuming you have never been convicted of drunk driving, the penalties for DUI may include a minimum $250 fine and one-year license suspension. However, if you had an extremely high percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream at the time you were arrested (a calculation known as blood alcohol content, or BAC), you could receive a much harsher sentence. For example, if your BAC was above 0.15%, a mandatory jail sentence will be imposed, and the judge may also order you to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle—making it impossible to operate your car without first performing a breath test.
When it comes to DUI, Virginia’s sentencing guidelines get even tougher for repeat offenders. Under state law, the punishment for a second drunk driving conviction within five years may include a minimum $500 fine, 3-year license suspension, and mandatory ignition interlock device requirement. You can also expect to spend anywhere from 20 days to a year behind bars if you are convicted of a second DUI.
After two convictions, a subsequent DUI will carry at least $1,000 in fines. In fact, if you are convicted of a third offense within a ten-year period, your driving privileges may be revoked indefinitely and your vehicle could even be confiscated by the state. The punishment for a third drunk driving conviction will also include a mandatory 90-day jail sentence. What’s more, if less than five years have passed since your last conviction, you can expect to spend at least six months in jail.
Of course, the penalties listed above are not the only consequences you will face if you are convicted of driving under the influence. As a criminal offense, a DUI conviction will be permanently reflected on your criminal record, where it will be easily found by prospective employers, housing providers, and anyone who conducts a thorough background investigation. In some cases, a DUI conviction could even affect your eligibility for certain educational and/or financial programs.
Long after you’ve served your sentence, your budget may continue to feel the impact of your DUI conviction. Along with court-imposed fines and other fees—such as the cost to reinstate your driver’s license and/or maintain an ignition interlock device—you may be charged far more for auto insurance. In some cases, a DUI conviction could even affect your life and/or health insurance premiums (and it could be years before your rates decrease).
Fortunately, being arrested for drunk driving does not necessarily mean that you will be found guilty of the charge. Indeed, many drivers are able to prove that the charges against them are unwarranted, and thus avoid the consequences of a Virginia DUI conviction. To learn how you can do the same, submit your information online today to receive a free, no-obligation consultation with a skilled DUI defense attorney in your area.
