Drunk driving is not only dangerous, it is also illegal. If you are charged and convicted of drunk driving, you might pay a heavy legal and personal price. Fortunately, like any legal matter, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. If you are charged with...
DUI
Don’t let a tailgate party land you in jail
Tailgate parties are most closely associated with football season. However, any kind of sporting or entertainment event can be a popular tailgate party venue. If you’ve already parked and you’re not going to be driving for at least several hours, you shouldn’t be...
Should you drive if you’re the ‘most sober’?
You may find yourself in a situation where everyone else at a social gathering or event is highly intoxicated, and you are deemed to be the most sober person there. For instance, this will sometimes happen to college students who go to off-campus apartments for social...
Is a DUI a felony offense in Virginia?
If you’ve found yourself in the awful position of being pulled over and arrested by the police for driving under the influence, you’ll no doubt be worried about what’s coming next. Will I lose my license? Will I go to jail? Am I going to be fined? These are just a...
Slurred speech doesn’t necessarily mean intoxication
As soon as you passed your driving test you realized that being on the roads is a huge responsibility. You take this very seriously and go out of your way to be a conscientious driver. Unfortunately, you’ve been pulled over, and law enforcement is accusing you of...
Sucking pennies and eating paper won’t help you avoid a DUI
Ever since Breathalyzers and similar devices designed to measure a suspected drunk driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) levels came widely into use back in the 1990s, a whole host of urban myths have sprung up about how to “beat” these tests. Will popping a penny in...
Can you keep your field sobriety test results out of court?
Prosecutors in Virginia will make use of every scrap of evidence they have to build a criminal case. When trying to prosecute a charge related to driving under the influence (DUI) allegations, a prosecutor relies on a combination of officer testimony, video footage...
How can a DUI conviction impact your career?
Many people do not appreciate that getting convicted for driving under influence (DUI) is a big deal. Unfortunately, it actually is. A conviction for drunk driving can lead to serious legal consequences. However, there is more to a DUI conviction than getting your...
Dumb mistakes drivers make when pulled over for a suspected DUI
When an officer pulls you over because they think you've had too much to drink, small mistakes can lead to major consequences. Everything you say and all of your actions can help an officer build a case against you. If they gather enough evidence to justify arresting...
Can you get a DUI for driving with an open container?
Virginia has no laws that specifically prohibit having open containers of alcohol in your vehicle. Instead, the language of the law reads as follows: “It is unlawful for any person to consume an alcoholic beverage while driving a motor vehicle upon a public highway of...