Ashburn DUI Defense Lawyer

When you are pulled over by a police officer who suspects that you may be driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may be unsure about what will happen next, what penalties you may face, or how your case will be handled. DUI charges can affect your life in many ways. You may lose your driver's license, which can affect your ability to get to work and handle daily responsibilities. You may be required to pay large fines of thousands of dollars or more. You could be sentenced to serve time in jail or face other serious penalties.

A DUI charge can threaten your employment opportunities or professional license, or it may affect your educational goals. It could put your entire future at risk. As you address DUI charges, you will need to understand the legal issues that may arise during your case and your options for defense. The best way to do so is by working with a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer.

At Robinson Law, PLLC, we work with people in Ashburn, Virginia and the surrounding areas who have been arrested for DUI. We can help you understand the charges you are facing and your legal options, and we will work to protect your rights throughout the criminal process. We will evaluate the circumstances surrounding a DUI traffic stop and arrest, find weaknesses in the case against you, and develop effective strategies designed to avoid a DUI conviction, reduce the charges that may apply, or minimize the penalties you may face whenever possible.

First-Time DUI Charges in Virginia

The penalties for DUI can be serious, even if you have been arrested for intoxicated driving for the first time. A first-time DUI conviction will require you to pay a fine that may range from $250 to $2,500, and your driver's license will be revoked for one year. If you had a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC), you may be required to serve a minimum jail sentence of five or 10 days.

Multiple DUI Offenses

The penalties you may face for a DUI conviction may increase significantly if you have been convicted of DUI in the past. For a second DUI within five years, you may face a minimum fine of $500, the revocation of your driver's license for three years, and the possibility of a jail sentence that could last for up to one year. A third DUI conviction is a felony offense that may lead to an indefinite driver's license revocation, a minimum fine of $1,000, and a longer prison sentence. The penalties will increase for any additional DUI convictions.

Drugged Driving Cases

You could be charged with DUI based on accusations that you were driving while under the influence of drugs. This may include driving after smoking marijuana, taking THC edibles, or using substances like cocaine or methamphetamine. In general, the same penalties will apply for drug-related DUI charges as for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Prescription medications and other substances could also lead to DUI charges. Some medications can cause drowsiness or a loss of motor control, affecting your ability to drive safely. You could be charged with DUI based on the use of opioid pain relievers, muscle relaxants, or sleep medications. The use of certain drugs along with other substances like alcohol or marijuana may also lead to intoxication, since the combination of multiple substances may have effects that can be more severe than any single substance on its own.