What are the penalties for a third DUI offense in Virginia?

A: If you have been charged with your third Virginia DUI, then you may face serious penalties including fines, driver's license revocation and jail time. To know whether you may be able to fight your Virginia DUI charge, you can consult an experienced Virginia DUI defense attorney.

Talk with your Virginia DUI defense attorney about the time frames in which your Virginia DUI offenses were committed. As you'll note below, jail sentences may increase in severity depending on the time frame of your Virginia DUI offenses.

If all 3 of your Virginia DUI offenses were committed within 5 years, then your penalties will include: 

• a class 6 Felony, which carries a punishment of imprisonment for 1 to 5 years;
• a mandatory minimum 6 month jail sentence;
• a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000; and
• an indefinite revocation of your driver's license. 

If all 3 of your Virginia DUIs were committed between a 5 and 10 year period, then your penalties will include: 

• a class 6 Felony, which carries a punishment of imprisonment for 1 to 5 years;
• a mandatory minimum 90 day jail sentence;
• a mandatory minimum fine of $1000; and
• an indefinite revocation of your driver's license. 

A class 6 felony will leave you with a permanent criminal record. This can seriously hinder any future job opportunities. Your record may also prevent you from buying a home or renting an apartment.

These penalties may be avoided if you choose to fight your Virginia DUI charges in court. Speaking to an experienced Virginia DUI defense attorney can help you learn more about what possible DUI defenses could work for your particular case.

How can a Virginia DUI defense attorney help me?

No state is faster at moving cases through the system than Virginia. In the face of a defending a criminal charge, the decision of who will be your lawyer will be one of the most important decisions you make in your life. Before you speak to any lawyer, get a complimentary copy of Bob Battle's consumer guide, How to Choose a DUI Lawyer in Virginia.   

Virginia DUI defense attorney Bob Battle aggressively defends criminal defendants who have been charged with felony crimes such as repeat DUI charges. For proven legal help with your criminal case, contact Bob Battle to schedule your legal consultation today - 804-673-5600.

• If you want to try to get your license back, you have less than 5 days to hire a lawyer.
• Your trial date is almost always less than 2 months from the date you were charged and, thus, waiting just 14 days to hire a lawyer could severely handicap your defense

• Who is going to be my lawyer at trial?
• What are his/her qualifications?
• Are they AV rated? "AV" = Highest rating possible for Legal Ability and Ethics
• Are they a former prosecutor?
• Where did they prosecute?