First Time DUI in Northern Virginia

Fairfax, Fauquier & Prince William County DUI Attorney

When a person is arrested for DUI, the usual procedure is to administer a breath or blood test to determine the BAC (blood alcohol concentration).  Legally this is not an optional test which means you are subject to a one year suspension of your driver's license for refusing the test.  This suspension will be in addition to the mandatory one year suspension if you are convicted of the DUI charge.  It is very important to consult a Northern Virginia DUI attorney who will aggressively defend you from this charge.

DUI Lawyer in Fairfax, Fauquier & Prince William County

Any person charged with DUI is immediately given a seven day administrative suspension of driving privileges.  The possible penalties for conviction on a first offense if your BAC was less than .12, include one year in jail, fine of $2,500 and mandatory loss of one's driver's license for one year.  In practice this often turns into a suspended jail sentence, a smaller fine, a one year suspension of your license and enrollment in the VASAP (Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program).  A higher BAC can involve a mandatory minimum jail sentence (BAC of .15 to 2.0 is a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail).  A BAC over 2.0 is a mandatory minimum of 10 days in jail and the installation of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle.  If the DUI also involves an accident or injury the penalties can be much more severe.  Because there is no much at stake it is vital that a highly skilled DUI lawyer mounts a DUI defense based on many years of experience in fighting this type of charge.

Second and subsequent convictions can result in very serious penalties.  For this reason the legal team at the firm will explore every possible method of obtaining an acquittal or getting the charges dropped or reduced.  Keeping your driving record and criminal record clear of a DUI conviction is important to your future.  You can discuss the circumstances of your arrest and get more detailed information from a respected Northern Virginia DUI lawyer by calling Law Offices of Michael A. Pignone for an initial consultation.