Drunk driving charges in Virginia can result in serious penalties and consequences that can haunt the accused individual for some time to come. Because of this reality, individuals accused of a DUI should know how to properly defend themselves against the charges they are facing.
Accused individuals who are alleged to have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may face a potential criminal record, hefty fines, jail time, suspension or revocation of their driver’s license and strict probation requirements. In addition, the sum total of the penalties and consequences they are facing can have a significant impact on their personal and professional lives. The criminal penalties and administrative consequences of drunk driving charges can have a crippling effect on the accused individual which is why they need to know how to protect themselves from the allegations, accusations and charges they are facing.
A first time DUI offense alone can result in serious penalties and consequences including significant fines, license suspension for a year, mandatory alcohol education programs and even jail time. Subsequent DUI offenses can lead to felony charges which may result in even harsher penalties and consequences for accused individuals. As a result, it is important for accused individuals to be familiar with the problems that are associated with breath tests, field sobriety tests and what to do if they believe they have been the victim of any police misconduct.
It is important to take DUI charges and the impact they can have on the accused individual’s life seriously. Criminal defense rights and options help protect individuals accused of drunk driving if they know what those criminal defense rights are and how to use them.