If you have been charged with your first offense of Virginia DUI, you may face penalties including fines, a driver's license suspension, and time spent in jail. To avoid these penalties, you may be able to fight your Virginia DUI charge. You can learn more about creating a DUI defense against your Virginia DUI charge by consulting with an experienced Virginia DUI defense attorney.
If you are convicted of a first Virginia DUI offense, your penalties will depend on your blood alcohol content (BAC) level. In addition to what is listed below, there may be other penalties depending on if there was an accident that caused property damage or personal injury, if you were younger than 21 years old at the time of your DUI arrest, or if there were minor children in the car with you at the time of your Virginia DUI arrest.
If for your first offense your BAC was less than .15, you will face a class 1 misdemeanor with penalties of:
- Up to a $2,500 fine;
- Up to 12 months in jail; and
- 1 year revocation of your administrative driver's license.
If for your first Virginia DUI offense your BAC was between .15 and .20, you will face the same penalties with an additional mandatory 5 day jail sentence.
If for your first Virginia DUI offense your BAC was greater than .20, you will face the same penalties with an additional mandatory 10 day jail sentence.
If you are convicted of a first offense for Virginia DUI, and your driver's license is revoked, you may be eligible for a Restricted Operator's License. However, if you do receive a Restricted Operator's License, and your BAC was measured at .15 or above, you will be required to install an ignition interlock system in your car.
To know more about the penalties for a first Virginia DUI, you can get the advice of a Virginia DUI defense attorney.
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 FREE copy of Bob Battle's consumer guide, How to Choose a DUI Lawyer in Virginia or contact Bob Battle to schedule your legal consultation today at 804-673-5600.
