Northern Virginia Underage DUI Attorney

About Underage DUI Cases in Fairfax, Fauquier & Prince William County

In Virginia it is against the law for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of .02 or higher.  This is a class 1 misdemeanor, which means it is the most serious type of misdemeanor.  If you were stopped by an officer while driving alone or with friends and subjected to a field sobriety test and then arrested for DUI, it is vital that you obtain the assistance of a Northern Virginia DUI Attorney as soon as possible.   

Underage DUI Lawyer Assisting Fairfax, Fauquier & Prince William County

The officer conducts a field sobriety to gather evidence that the driver was impaired.  This simply means that the driver's physical ability to control the vehicle and his or her judgment was affected by drugs or alcohol or a combination of the two.  The driver will also be required to take a blood test or a breath test to determine his or her BAC level.  If the BAC level is found to be over .08 the penalties will be the same as those for an adult.  If the BAC is over .02 but is below .08 the penalties involved can include:

• Mandatory attendance at a Virginia Alcohol Safety Action program
• Fine of up to $500
• Up to 50 hours of community service
• License suspension 

An officer must have a valid reason for making a traffic stop and cannot stop a driver because it is late at night or to find out where the driver is going.  The field sobriety test even when conducted precisely is has a huge margin of error when using them to determine that a driver is drunk.  The breath test device can be out of calibration and can give an inaccurate reading.  The results of a blood test can be inaccurate if not carefully and correctly done.  A resourceful underage Northern Virginia DUI lawyer will conduct an intensive examination of every aspect of the traffic stop, the testing and much more to find grounds for a dismissal of the charges or to have the charges reduced.

It is very important to avoid conviction on a DUI charge which will remain on your record and continue to affect your car insurance and employment opportunities for many years to come.  A DUI lawyer at the firm understands the stress you can experience at this time and will fight aggressively in your defense.  Call Attorney Michael Pignone to discuss your defense with a skillful defender.