DUI Penalties in Northern Virginia

Fairfax, Fauquier & Prince William County DUI Attorney

Is it possible for a driver to feel he or she is completely in control of a vehicle and still be arrested and charged with DUI?  Unfortunately, yes it is.  It can come as a shock to be suddenly stopped, interrogated, asked to submit to a field sobriety test, then arrested and given a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) blood or breath test.   Sometimes an officer will unfairly decide a driver is guilty before even talking with the driver.  If something like this has happened to you or a family member, it is important that you consult a Northern Virginia DUI attorney immediately, and it should be an attorney who is very skilled in DUI defense.

DUI Lawyer Serving Fairfax, Fauquier & Prince William County

Virginia law dictates an administrative suspension of driving privileges for 7 days or more after an arrest. Any DUI conviction will result in loss of driving privileges for up to one year.  A first time DUI with a BAC of less than 0.12 will be charged as a misdemeanor and usually will result in lighter penalties.  A higher BAC or subsequent convictions can result in mandatory incarceration of up to one year and loss of driver's license for 3 years.  The penalties for a DUI involving an accident or injury are more severe.  For example, vehicular homicide penalties include up to 12 years incarceration, fines up to $750,000 and license revocation.   An experienced Northern Virginia DUI lawyer with the firm will thoroughly investigate every aspect of a traffic stop, testing, and arrest in order to build a strong and effective defense.

It takes a great deal of skill and know-how to fight a DUI charge.  The legal team at the firm is strongly interested in protecting your driver's license and helping you fight to avoid a conviction while working closely with you to develop your defense strategy and keep you fully informed.  Depending upon the circumstances of your arrest, there may be a number of weaknesses in the prosecution's case which could be used to get the charges dropped, dismissed, or reduced, or to obtain an acquittal at trial.  Call Law Offices of Michael A. Pignone for a consultation and get more specific information concerning your case.