Defense DUI Attorney Virginia Beach | Coastal Virginia Law Firm
Have you been arrested for a Virginia DUI/DWI? Coastal Virginia Law Firm can help your case.
Virginia Beach DUI and DWI Defense
A DUI charge can affect your driving privileges, finances, and future. Virginia law covers driving or operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and certain alcohol test results. Our firm can review the charge and evidence, explain the court process, and discuss possible defenses and next steps. Contact us for a free consultation.
What You Need To Know About Defense DUI Attorney Virginia Beach | Coastal Virginia Law Firm
You don’t have to deal with your DUI charges alone!
Facing a DUI charge can be stressful. The Coastal Virginia Law Firm can review the charge, the available evidence, and possible defenses or court options with you. The strategy and outcome depend on the facts of your case. Contact our office for a free consultation about your next steps.
Facing a Virginia DUI or DWI Charge?
A DUI charge can raise questions about the evidence, your court date, and your driving privileges. Our Virginia Beach defense team can review the circumstances and explain possible defenses and next steps. Call 888-402-7117 for a free consultation. The available options and outcome depend on the facts.
DUI Defense and Driving Privileges
Virginia DUI law applies to driving or operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as specified alcohol or drug test results. A charge is a criminal matter, and the consequences vary with the evidence, prior offenses, timing, and any statutory enhancements.
What Happens After a DUI Conviction in Virginia?
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A first violation of Virginia Code § 18.2-266 is generally a Class 1 misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum $250 fine. A sufficiently high alcohol test result or other circumstances can add mandatory confinement.
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A second offense within 10 years carries increased mandatory fines and jail time. The mandatory minimum depends in part on whether the prior offense was less than five years earlier or five to 10 years earlier, and a high alcohol result can add time.
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A third offense within 10 years is a Class 6 felony with mandatory minimum confinement and a $1,000 minimum fine. A later offense or a prior qualifying felony can bring additional penalties. See Virginia Code § 18.2-270.
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Conviction also affects driving privileges. A first conviction generally brings a one-year loss of driving privileges; a qualifying second conviction within 10 years brings three years; a qualifying felony conviction can bring indefinite revocation. Eligibility for a restricted license depends on the circumstances and court or DMV requirements. See § 18.2-271 and § 18.2-271.1.
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Virginia generally requires a person convicted of DUI to complete an alcohol safety action program, with a statutory good-cause exception after assessment. Ignition interlock requirements depend on the conviction and restricted-license terms; the rules differ for certain drug-only first offenses. See § 18.2-270.1.
What Is the Difference Between DUI and DWI?
DUI and DWI are common shorthand for impaired-driving charges. Virginia Code § 18.2-266 addresses driving or operating while intoxicated or under the influence and includes specified test-result offenses. The precise charge and evidence matter more than the shorthand label.
Virginia Beach DUI Defense: What to Ask First
A DUI arrest can involve questions about the stop, the driving or operation evidence, chemical testing, and prior convictions. Our firm can review the record, explain the court process, and discuss possible defenses and license options. Call 888-402-7117 for a free consultation. We cannot promise a particular result.
What Counts as Operating a Vehicle?
Virginia Code § 18.2-266 applies to a person who drives or operates a motor vehicle while meeting one of the statute’s alcohol or drug conditions. A vehicle need not necessarily be moving when police encounter it, but whether the Commonwealth can prove operation is a fact-specific question. The location of the person, the vehicle’s controls, and other evidence may matter. There is no automatic three-hour rule that establishes a DUI charge merely because police later encounter someone away from a vehicle.
What Happens to My Car After a DUI Arrest?
Depending on the circumstances and local procedures, a vehicle may be released to an authorized driver or towed. Towing and storage can involve fees. A DUI arrest does not itself give police unlimited authority to search a vehicle for anything they choose; the lawfulness and scope of a search depend on the facts and an applicable legal basis. Ask counsel to review any stop, search, tow, and inventory records in your case.
Is Jail Mandatory for a Virginia DUI?
A basic first DUI conviction under § 18.2-270 is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum $250 fine, but that provision does not impose mandatory jail solely for a first conviction. A qualifying alcohol test result of at least 0.15 can add mandatory confinement, and transporting a person age 17 or younger adds a separate mandatory minimum. A second offense within 10 years carries mandatory jail time that varies with the interval from the earlier offense and other factors. A third offense within 10 years is a felony with a mandatory minimum of 90 days, or six months when all three offenses occurred within five years. Other circumstances can change the applicable penalties.
For advice about the evidence and potential consequences in your case, contact The Coastal Virginia Law Firm for a free consultation.