DUI/DWI Overview

Any person that operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol or anyone who drives while visibly intoxicated may be charged with DUI. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08%, which means that any person that drives a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher may be charged with driving under the influence.

Police Stops & Arrests for Drunk Driving in Virginia

In Virginia, before making a DUI stop, police must have a reason to believe a driver is operating his/her vehicle while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both. This is why police must closely monitor driving behaviors before pulling people over for suspected DWI. Police may suspect that a person is driving under the influence if he/she is engaging in inconsistent driving behaviors, like weaving between traffic lanes or excessively speeding. Once police notice these behaviors, they will pull people over immediately.

After police officers have pulled people over, they will look for further signs that may prove people are intoxicated. They may look through vehicle windows for open containers or see if drivers are slurring their words or having difficulty answering questions. If they pick up on further signs of intoxication, they will ask people to take a breath test and to perform field sobriety tests. If people fail their field sobriety tests or have a blood alcohol test result of 0.08% or higher, they will be placed under arrest for DUI.

Hiring a Fairfax DUI Attorney

Immediately following their arrests, people will need to decide whether they will hire a Fairfax DUI attorney or choose to go it alone. While forgoing representation may seem appealing, it is strongly advised that people protect their legal rights and best interests by working with a skilled DUI lawyer, like Attorney Scott C. Nolan.

Contact a Fairfax DWI attorney at our firm today to learn more about DWI and how an experienced attorney can help you.