Northern Virginia DUI Lawyer
Driving Under the Influence / DUI Defense

When you have been charged with a criminal offense such as Driving Under the Influence (DUI), or any serious traffic charge, you need a committed legal team focused on obtaining only the best results for you. There are numerous possible consequences that can result from a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction, including the restriction or loss of your right to drive, increases in insurance costs, fines and court costs, and even imprisonment.

In that state of Virginia, you can be charged with a DUI (driving under the influence) if you are driving with a blood alcohol level that is .08 or higher. You can also be charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated) if you have other intoxicants or drugs, such as marijuana or cocaine, in your system while driving.

Virginia Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The maximum punishment for a first offense is a $2,500 fine, one year in jail, and the loss of one's driving privileges for one year. Additionally, all persons convicted of DUI are, by law, required to lose their driving privileges for one year (or three years for subsequent offenses). All people convicted of DUI must also enter the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), a drunk driving education program.

The mission of the lawyers of the Parrish Law Firm is to defend your rights and freedom, while preserving your right to drive. We understand the importance of maintaining your right to drive and how important having a license is to preservation of your quality of life. Our DUI attorneys are dedicated to the aggressive representation of our clients. Your selection of an experienced criminal defense trial lawyer who is committed to preserving your rights can be the most important decision you make. ______________________________________________

Virginia DUI Terms

BAC: Short for "blood alcohol concentration." BAC refers to the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream and is measured in percentages. BAC can be measured either by breath, blood or urine testing and is often used by law enforcement to determine whether or not a motorist is "legally" drunk.

Breathalyzer: A portable machine used by law enforcement to measure the BAC of suspected drunk drivers.

Chemical Test: A test of the alcohol or drug concentration in a person's blood. A Breathalyzer, blood analysis, or urinalysis can be used as chemical tests for alcohol.

Commercial Vehicle: A vehicle driven for business purposes. In the DUI context, these are the consequences for driving a commercial vehicle while drunk.

Felony: A serious crime, such as murder, rape or burglary, for which there is a stricter sentence given than for a misdemeanor. Felonies are usually categorized by degrees. 1st degree felonies are the most serious class (with the highest fines and penalties), 2nd degree felonies are less serious, and so on.

Implied Consent Laws: Virginia has implied consent laws. If you have a driver's license, you have consented to being pulled over by a police officer to have your blood alcohol concentration measured. You may refuse to take the test, but fines and license suspensions can be the result.

License Revocation: A license revocation means your driving privileges have been cancelled. You will likely need to reapply for a license after a designated length of time.

License Suspension: A license suspension means you may not drive for the period of your suspension. If your license is suspended, the suspension will likely take effect immediately upon arrest, and not upon conviction.

Misdemeanor: A crime less serious than a felony. Misdemeanors are sometimes categorized by degrees. 1st degree misdemeanors are the most serious, and so on.

Probation: When all or part of the required jail time is suspended in exchange for good behavior, as determined by checking in with a probation officer. Jail time may be reinstated if it is found the terms of probation are being violated.
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The lawyers of the Parrish Law Firm successfully represent clients throughout Northern Virginia against DWI charges, including, the cities of Manassas, Gainesville, Fairfax, Warrenton, Woodbridge, Haymarket and Front Royal. Our attorneys have defended the rights of clients in Driving While Intoxicated cases in Prince William County, Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Warren County, Loudoun County and beyond.