Fairfax Drunk Driving Attorney
Drunk driving is a serious problem in Virginia and across the country. As such, anyone who is driving in Virginia should know that law enforcement officials take drunk driving extremely seriously, and that they could risk being charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) if they consume too much alcohol and get behind the wheel of a car. If you are out to dinner with friends or family members in Fairfax, you might not even realize that you have consumed enough alcohol that you could be drunk under Virginia law. For many people, even having more than a single drink could mean that you have consumed more alcohol than is safe for driving, and you could be stopped and charged.
If you are facing drunk driving charges, you should know that you will have a criminal record if you are convicted. Virginia is not a state that allows a person to expunge a criminal record after a conviction. To be sure, you can only have a criminal record of drunk driving expunged if you were never convicted, or if you are pardoned. When you are facing charges, a Fairfax drunk driving attorney can assist with your defense.
What is Drunk Driving in Fairfax, VA?
Drunk driving usually is charged as an offense under Virginia’s driving while intoxicated law (Code of Va. § 18.2-266). Drunk driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol, is applicable to several of these circumstances listed in the statute, including driving when a person has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher, or when a person is driving under the influence of alcohol. It is also important for anyone in Virginia to know that the term “motor vehicle” in this statute also includes mopeds when they are operated on public highways.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-involved deaths are lower in Virginia than the national average, yet many people are still injured and killed in drunk driving crashes. The CDC indicates that approximately 1.4 percent of adult drivers in Virginia report that they have driven at least once in the last 30 days after drinking too much alcohol.
Possible Defenses to Drunk Driving Charges in Fairfax
If you are facing drunk driving charges, you will need to do everything you can to beat these charges. Our Fairfax drunk driving defense lawyers can develop a defense strategy that is tailored to the specific facts of your case. The following are some examples of potential defenses that we may be able to use in your drunk driving case:
- Defective breathalyzer;
- Contaminated blood sample;
- Rising blood alcohol;
- Improper use of breathalyzer test; and/or
- 4th Amendment violation.
Contact a Fairfax Drunk Driving Defense Attorney
If you were stopped for drunk driving and are facing DUI charges in Virginia, you need to have an experienced Fairfax drunk driving defense attorney on your side. These charges are very serious, and a conviction can have severe consequences. One of the Virginia criminal defense attorneys at our firm can speak with you today about defense strategies. Contact Simms Showers LLP to learn more.
