Virginia DUI Laws and Penalties

Virginia DUI/DWI Laws

If you’ve been recently charged with a DUI in Virginia and are looking for more information, you’ve come to the right place. From specific DUI-related Virginia laws to possible penalties, we’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to.

What is DUI?
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence. In Virginia, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or more. This is considered a felony. It’s important to know that .08% isn’t the only magic number. In fact, at .05%, if a police officer can proof in court that you were dangerously operating your vehicle, you can be convicted of DUI.

And DUI doesn’t just apply to alcohol. Drugs are also included in this category whether illegal or legal, prescribed or not prescribed.

Zero Tolerance
For drivers under age 21, listen up! Once your BAC has reached only .02%, you are considered DUI in Virginia. That’s because of the Zero Tolerance law – a law enacted to help stop underage drinking and driving.

Virginia’s DUI Penalties
If your BAC was over the legal limit and it’s your first offense, your license can be suspended for 1 year. For a second offense, it’s 3 years and for a third offense it’s 5 years. If you refused to submit to a chemical test (blood, breath or urine) or field sobriety testing when asked by police, this is grounds for license suspension. This is because of Virginia’s Implied Consent law. When you obtained your Virginia driver’s license, you impliedly consented to submitting to chemical testing if asked by police.

The judge may also order an ignition interlock device to be installed in your car. If your BAC reaches .02% or more, your vehicle will not start. The machine detects your BAC when you breathe into the tube.

If your recent DUI is a fourth offense, your vehicle can be confiscated. The judge will also order you to enroll in alcohol education or treatment programs.

Finding a DUI Attorney
Charged with a DUI in Virginia? Your first step should be to hire an experienced DUI lawyer. With drinking and driving receiving tons of media attention, judges are not likely to be lenient. It’s imperative that you seek counsel to defend your case.

Cities, Counties, and Zip codes that we service:

Cities we service: ABINGDON, ACCOMAC, ACHILLES, AFTON, ALBERTA, ALDIE, ALEXANDRIA, ALTAVISTA, ALTON, AMELIA COURT HOUSE, AMHERST, AMISSVILLE, AMMON, AMONATE, ANDERSONVILLE, ANDOVER, ANNANDALE, APPALACHIA, APPOMATTOX, ARARAT, ARCOLA, ARK, ARLINGTON, ARODA, ARRINGTON, ARVONIA, ASHBURN, ASHLAND, ASSAWOMAN, ATKINS, ATLANTIC, AUGUSTA SPRINGS, AUSTINVILLE, AXTON, AYLETT, BACOVA, BANCO, BANDY, BARBOURSVILLE, BARHAMSVILLE, BARREN SPRINGS, BASKERVILLE, BASSETT, BASTIAN, BASYE, BATESVILLE, BATTERY PARK, BAVON, BEALETON, BEAUMONT, BEAVERDAM, BEAVERLETT, BEDFORD, BEE, BELLAMY, BELLE HAVEN, BELSPRING, BEN HUR, BENA, BENT MOUNTAIN, BENTONVILLE, BERGTON, BERRYVILLE, BIG ISLAND, BIG ROCK, BIG STONE GAP, BIRCHLEAF, BIRDSNEST, BISHOP, BLACKSBURG, BLACKSTONE, BLACKWATER, BLAIRS, BLAKES, BLAND, BLOXOM, BLUE GRASS, BLUE RIDGE, BLUEFIELD, BLUEMONT, BOHANNON, BOISSEVAIN, BOONES MILL, BOSTON, BOWLING GREEN, BOYCE, BOYDTON, BOYKINS, BRACEY, BRANCHVILLE, BRANDY STATION, BREAKS, BREMO BLUFF, BRIDGEWATER, BRIGHTWOOD, BRISTOL, BRISTOW, BROAD RUN, BROADFORD, BROADWAY, BRODNAX, BROOKE, BROOKNEAL, BROWNSBURG, BRUCETOWN, BRUINGTON, BUCHANAN, BUCKINGHAM, BUENA VISTA, BUFFALO JUNCTION, BUMPASS, BURGESS, BURKE, BURKES GARDEN, BURKEVILLE, BURR HILL, CALLANDS, CALLAO, CALLAWAY, CALVERTON, CANA, CAPE CHARLES, CAPEVILLE, CAPRON, CARDINAL, CARET, CARROLLTON, CARRSVILLE, CARSON, CARTERSVILLE, CASANOVA, CASCADE, CASTLETON, CASTLEWOOD, CATAWBA, CATHARPIN, CATLETT, CAUTHORNVILLE, CEDAR BLUFF, CENTER CROSS, CENTREVILLE, CERES, CHAMPLAIN, CHANCE, CHANTILLY, CHARLES CITY, CHARLOTTE COURT HOUS, CHARLOTTESVILLE, CHASE CITY, CHATHAM, CHECK, CHERITON, CHESAPEAKE, CHESTER, CHESTER GAP, CHESTERFIELD, CHILHOWIE, CHINCOTEAGUE, CHRISTCHURCH, CHRISTIANSBURG, CHURCH ROAD, CHURCH VIEW, CHURCHVILLE, CLAREMONT, CLARKSVILLE, CLAUDVILLE, CLEAR BROOK, CLEVELAND, CLIFFORD, CLIFTON, CLIFTON FORGE, CLINCHCO, CLINTWOOD, CLOVER, CLOVERDALE, CLUSTER SPRINGS, COBBS CREEK, COEBURN, COLEMAN FALLS, COLES POINT, COLLINSVILLE, COLONIAL BEACH, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, COLUMBIA, CONCORD, COPPER HILL, CORBIN, COURTLAND, COVESVILLE, COVINGTON, CRADDOCKVILLE, CRAIGSVILLE, CREWE, CRIDERS, CRIMORA, CRIPPLE CREEK, CRITZ, CROCKETT, CROSS JUNCTION, CROZET, CROZIER, CRYSTAL HILL, CULLEN, CULPEPER, CUMBERLAND, DABNEYS, DAHLGREN, DALEVILLE, DAMASCUS, DANTE, DANVILLE, DAVENPORT, DAVIS WHARF, DAYTON, DEERFIELD, DELAPLANE, DELTAVILLE, DENDRON, DEWITT, DIGGS, DILLWYN, DINWIDDIE, DISPUTANTA, DOE HILL, DOGUE, DOLPHIN, DORAN, DOSWELL, DRAKES BRANCH, DRAPER, DREWRYVILLE, DRY FORK, DRYDEN, DUBLIN, DUFFIELD, DUGSPUR, DULLES, DUMFRIES, DUNDAS, DUNGANNON, DUNNSVILLE, DUTTON, DYKE, EAGLE ROCK, EARLYSVILLE, EAST STONE GAP, EASTVILLE, EBONY, EDINBURG, EDWARDSVILLE, EGGLESTON, ELBERON, ELK CREEK, ELKTON, ELKWOOD, ELLISTON, EMORY, EMPORIA, ESMONT, ETLAN, EVERGREEN, EVINGTON, EWING, EXETER, EXMORE, FABER, FAIRFAX, FAIRFIELD, FALLS CHURCH, FALLS MILLS, FANCY GAP, FARMVILLE, FARNHAM, FERRUM, FIELDALE, FIFE, FINCASTLE, FISHERS HILL, FISHERSVILLE, FLINT HILL, FLOYD, FONESWOOD, FORD, FOREST, FORK UNION, FORT BELVOIR, FORT BLACKMORE, FORT DEFIANCE, FORT LEE, FORT MITCHELL, FORT VALLEY, FOSTER, FRANKLIN, FRANKTOWN, FREDERICKSBURG, FREE UNION, FREEMAN, FRIES, FRONT ROYAL, FULKS RUN, GAINESVILLE, GALAX, GARRISONVILLE, GASBURG, GATE CITY, GLADE SPRING, GLADEHILL, GLADSTONE, GLADYS, GLASGOW, GLEN ALLEN, GLEN LYN, GLEN WILTON, GLOUCESTER, GLOUCESTER POINT, GOLDBOND, GOLDVEIN, GOOCHLAND, GOODE, GOODVIEW, GORDONSVILLE, GORE, GOSHEN, GRAVES MILL, GREAT FALLS, GREEN BAY, GREENBACKVILLE, GREENBUSH, GREENVILLE, GREENWOOD, GRETNA, GRIMSTEAD, GROTTOES, GRUNDY, GUM SPRING, GWYNN, HACKSNECK, HADENSVILLE, HAGUE, HALIFAX, HALLIEFORD, HALLWOOD, HAMILTON, HAMPDEN SYDNEY, HAMPTON, HANOVER, HARBORTON, HARDY, HARDYVILLE, HARMAN, HARRISONBURG, HARTFIELD, HARTWOOD, HAYES, HAYMARKET, HAYNESVILLE, HAYSI, HAYWOOD, HEAD WATERS, HEATHSVILLE, HENRY, HERNDON, HIGHLAND SPRINGS, HIGHTOWN, HILLSVILLE, HILTONS, HINTON, HIWASSEE, HONAKER, HOOD, HOPEWELL, HORNTOWN, HORSEPEN, HOT SPRINGS, HUDDLESTON, HUDGINS, HUME, HUNTLY, HURLEY, HURT, HUSTLE, INDEPENDENCE, INDIAN VALLEY, IRON GATE, IRVINGTON, ISLE *OF WIGHT, IVANHOE, IVOR, IVY, JAMAICA, JAMES STORE, JAMESTOWN, JAMESVILLE, JARRATT, JAVA, JEFFERSONTON, JENKINS BRIDGE, JERSEY, JETERSVILLE, JEWELL RIDGE, JONESVILLE, KEELING, KEEN MOUNTAIN, KEENE, KEEZLETOWN, KELLER, KENBRIDGE, KENTS STORE, KEOKEE, KESWICK, KEYSVILLE, KILMARNOCK, KING AND QUEEN COURT, KING GEORGE, KING WILLIAM, KINSALE, LA CROSSE, LACEY SPRING, LACKEY, LADYSMITH, LAMBSBURG, LANCASTER, LANEVIEW, LANEXA, LAUREL FORK, LAWRENCEVILLE, LEBANON, LEE MONT, LEESBURG, LEON, LEXINGTON, LIGHTFOOT, LIGNUM, LINCOLN, LINDEN, LINVILLE, LIVELY, LOCUST DALE, LOCUST GROVE, LOCUST HILL, LOCUSTVILLE, LONG ISLAND, LORETTO, LORTON, LOTTSBURG, LOUISA, LOVETTSVILLE, LOVINGSTON, LOW MOOR, LOWESVILLE, LOWRY, LUNENBURG, LURAY, LYNCH STATION, LYNCHBURG, LYNDHURST, MACHIPONGO, MACON, MADISON, MADISON HEIGHTS, MADISON MILLS, MAIDENS, MANAKIN SABOT, MANASSAS, MANNBORO, MANQUIN, MAPPSVILLE, MARION, MARIONVILLE, MARKHAM, MARSHALL, MARTINSVILLE, MARYUS, MASCOT, MASSIES MILL, MATHEWS, MATTAPONI, MAURERTOWN, MAVISDALE, MAX MEADOWS, MAXIE, MC CLURE, MC COY, MC DOWELL, MC GAHEYSVILLE, MC KENNEY, MC LEAN, MEADOWS OF DAN, MEADOWVIEW, MEARS, MECHANICSVILLE, MEHERRIN, MELFA, MENDOTA, MEREDITHVILLE, MERRIFIELD, MERRY POINT, MIDDLEBROOK, MIDDLEBURG, MIDDLETOWN, MIDLAND, MIDLOTHIAN, MILES, MILFORD, MILLBORO, MILLERS TAVERN, MILLWOOD, MINERAL, MINT SPRING, MITCHELLS, MOBJACK, MODEST TOWN, MOLLUSK, MONETA, MONROE, MONTEBELLO, MONTEREY, MONTPELIER, MONTPELIER STATION, MONTROSS, MONTVALE, MOON, MORATTICO, MOSELEY, MOUNT CRAWFORD, MOUNT HOLLY, MOUNT JACKSON, MOUNT SIDNEY, MOUNT SOLON, MOUNT VERNON, MOUTH OF WILSON, MSC NORTHERN VA, MUSTOE, NARROWS, NARUNA, NASSAWADOX, NATHALIE, NATURAL BRIDGE, NATURAL BRIDGE STATI, NELLYSFORD, NELSON, NELSONIA, NEW CANTON, NEW CASTLE, NEW CHURCH, NEW HOPE, NEW KENT, NEW MARKET, NEW POINT, NEW RIVER, NEWBERN, NEWINGTON, NEWPORT, NEWPORT NEWS, NEWSOMS, NEWTOWN, NICKELSVILLE, NINDE, NOKESVILLE, NORA, NORFOLK, NORGE, NORTH, NORTH GARDEN, NORTH TAZEWELL, NORTON, NORWOOD, NOTTOWAY, NUTTSVILLE, OAK HALL, OAKPARK, OAKWOOD, OCCOQUAN, OILVILLE, OLDHAMS, ONANCOCK, ONEMO, ONLEY, OPHELIA, ORANGE, ORDINARY, ORISKANY, ORKNEY SPRINGS, ORLEAN, OYSTER, PAEONIAN SPRINGS, PAINT BANK, PAINTER, PALMYRA, PAMPLIN, PARIS, PARKSLEY, PARROTT, PARTLOW, PATRICK SPRINGS, PEARISBURG, PEMBROKE, PENHOOK, PENN LAIRD, PENNINGTON GAP, PETERSBURG, PHENIX, PHILOMONT, PILGRIMS KNOB, PILOT, PINEY RIVER, PITTSVILLE, PLAIN VIEW, PLEASANT VALLEY, POCAHONTAS, PORT HAYWOOD, PORT REPUBLIC, PORT ROYAL, PORTSMOUTH, POUND, POUNDING MILL, POWHATAN, PRATTS, PRINCE GEORGE, PROSPECT, PROVIDENCE FORGE, PULASKI, PUNGOTEAGUE, PURCELLVILLE, QUANTICO, QUICKSBURG, QUINBY, QUINQUE, QUINTON, RADFORD, RADIANT, RANDOLPH, RAPHINE, RAPIDAN, RAPPAHANNOCK ACADEMY, RAVEN, RAWLINGS, RECTORTOWN, RED ASH, RED HOUSE, RED OAK, REDWOOD, REEDVILLE, REMINGTON, REPUBLICAN GROVE, RESCUE, RESTON, REVA, RHOADESVILLE, RICE, RICH CREEK, RICHARDSVILLE, RICHLANDS, RICHMOND, RIDGEWAY, RILEYVILLE, RINER, RINGGOLD, RIPPLEMEAD, RIXEYVILLE, ROANOKE, ROCHELLE, ROCKBRIDGE BATHS, ROCKVILLE, ROCKY GAP, ROCKY MOUNT, ROLLINS FORK, ROSE HILL, ROSEDALE, ROSELAND, ROUND HILL, ROWE, RUBY, RUCKERSVILLE, RURAL RETREAT, RUSTBURG, RUTHER GLEN, RUTHVILLE, SAINT CHARLES, SAINT PAUL, SAINT STEPHENS CHURC, SALEM, SALTVILLE, SALUDA, SANDSTON, SANDY HOOK, SANDY LEVEL, SANFORD, SAXE, SAXIS, SCHLEY, SCHUYLER, SCOTTSBURG, SCOTTSVILLE, SEAFORD, SEALSTON, SEAVIEW, SEDLEY, SELMA, SEVEN MILE FORD, SEVERN, SHACKLEFORDS, SHARPS, SHAWSVILLE, SHENANDOAH, SHIPMAN, SHORTT GAP, SINGERS GLEN, SKIPPERS, SKIPWITH, SMITHFIELD, SOMERSET, SOMERVILLE, SOUTH BOSTON, SOUTH HILL, SPARTA, SPEEDWELL, SPENCER, SPERRYVILLE, SPOTSYLVANIA, SPOTTSWOOD, SPOUT SPRING, SPRING GROVE, SPRINGFIELD, STAFFORD, STAFFORDSVILLE, STANARDSVILLE, STANLEY, STANLEYTOWN, STAR TANNERY, STATE FARM, STAUNTON, STEELES TAVERN, STEPHENS CITY, STEPHENSON, STERLING, STEVENSBURG, STEVENSVILLE, STONEGA, STONY CREEK, STRASBURG, STRATFORD, STUART, STUARTS DRAFT, STUDLEY, SUFFOLK, SUGAR GROVE, SUMERDUCK, SUPPLY, SURRY, SUSAN, SUSSEX, SUTHERLAND, SUTHERLIN, SWEET BRIAR, SWOOPE, SWORDS CREEK, SYRIA, TANGIER, TANNERSVILLE, TAPPAHANNOCK, TASLEY, TAZEWELL, TEMPERANCEVILLE, THAXTON, THE PLAINS, THORNBURG, TIMBERVILLE, TOANO, TOMS BROOK, TOPPING, TOWNSEND, TRAMMEL, TREVILIANS, TRIANGLE, TROUT DALE, TROUTVILLE, TROY, TURBEVILLE, TYRO, TYSONS CORNER, UNION HALL, UNIONVILLE, UNIVERSITY OF RICHMO, UPPERVILLE, URBANNA, VALENTINES, VANSANT, VERNON HILL, VERONA, VESTA, VESUVIUS, VICTORIA, VIENNA, VIEWTOWN, VILLAGE, VILLAMONT, VINTON, VIRGILINA, VIRGINIA BEACH, VOLNEY, WACHAPREAGUE, WAKE, WAKEFIELD, WALKERTON, WARDTOWN, WARE NECK, WARFIELD, WARM SPRINGS, WARNER, WARRENTON, WARSAW, WASHINGTON, WATER VIEW, WATERFORD, WATTSVILLE, WAVERLY, WAYNESBORO, WEBER CITY, WEEMS, WEIRWOOD, WEST AUGUSTA, WEST POINT, WESTMORELAND, WEYERS CAVE, WHITE HALL, WHITE MARSH, WHITE PLAINS, WHITE POST, WHITE STONE, WHITETOP, WHITEWOOD, WICOMICO, WICOMICO CHURCH, WILLIAMSBURG, WILLIAMSVILLE, WILLIS, WILLIS WHARF, WILSONS, WINCHESTER, WINDSOR, WINGINA, WIRTZ, WISE, WITHAMS, WOLFORD, WOLFTOWN, WOODBERRY FOREST, WOODBRIDGE, WOODFORD, WOODLAWN, WOODS CROSS ROADS, WOODSTOCK, WOODVILLE, WOOLWINE, WYLLIESBURG, WYTHEVILLE, YALE, YORKTOWN, ZACATA, ZANONI, ZUNI Counties we service: ACCOMACK, ALBEMARLE, ALEXANDRIA (CITY), AMELIA, AMHERST, APPOMATTOX, ARLINGTON, AUGUSTA, BATH, BEDFORD, BEDFORD (CITY), BLAND, BOTETOURT, BRISTOL, BRUNSWICK, BUCHANAN, BUCKINGHAM, BUENA VISTA (CITY), CAMPBELL, CAROLINE, CARROLL, CHARLES CITY, CHARLOTTE, CHARLOTTESVILLE (CIT, CHESAPEAKE (CITY), CHESTERFIELD, CLARKE, CLIFTON FORGE (CITY), COLONIAL HEIGHTS(CIT, County, COVINGTON (CITY), CRAIG, CULPEPER, CUMBERLAND, DANVILLE (CITY), DICKENSON, DINWIDDIE, EMPORIA (CITY), ESSEX, FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX (CITY), FAUQUIER, FLOYD, FLUVANNA, FRANKLIN, FRANKLIN (CITY), FREDERICK, GILES, GLOUCESTER, GOOCHLAND, GRAYSON, GREENE, GREENSVILLE, HALIFAX, HAMPTON (CITY), HANOVER, HARRISONBURG (CITY), HENRICO, HENRY, HIGHLAND, HOPEWELL (CITY), ISLE OF WIGHT, JAMES CITY, KING AND QUEEN, KING GEORGE, KING WILLIAM, LANCASTER, LEE, LEXINGTON (CITY), LOUDOUN, LOUISA, LUNENBURG, LYNCHBURG (CITY), MADISON, MANASSAS (CITY), MANASSAS PARK (CITY), MARTINSVILLE (CITY), MATHEWS, MECKLENBURG, MIDDLESEX, MONTGOMERY, NELSON, NEW KENT, NEWPORT NEWS (CITY), NORFOLK (CITY), NORTHAMPTON, NORTHUMBERLAND, NOTTOWAY, ORANGE, PAGE, PATRICK, PETERSBURG (CITY), PITTSYLVANIA, POQUOSON (CITY), PORTSMOUTH (CITY), POWHATAN, PRINCE EDWARD, PRINCE GEORGE, PRINCE WILLIAM, PULASKI, RADFORD, RAPPAHANNOCK, RICHMOND, RICHMOND (CITY), ROANOKE, ROANOKE (CITY), ROCKBRIDGE, ROCKINGHAM, RUSSELL, SALEM, SHENANDOAH, SMYTH, SOUTHAMPTON, SPOTSYLVANIA, STAFFORD, STAUNTON (CITY), STOKES, SUFFOLK (CITY), SURRY, SUSSEX, TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA BEACH (CITY, WARREN, WASHINGTON, WAYNESBORO (CITY), WESTMORELAND, WISE, WYTHE, YORK Zip Codes: 22001, 22002, 22013, 22030, 22110, 22111, 22201, 22300, 22303, 22401, 22405, 22427, 22432, 22436, 22443, 22460, 22480, 22485, 22610, 22611, 22624, 22709, 22712, 22713, 22801, 22810, 22811, 22835, 22901, 22903, 22920, 22923, 22935, 22980, 23002, 23004, 23005, 23009, 23011, 23013, 23022, 23023, 23024, 23027, 23030, 23032, 23039, 23050, 23060, 23120, 23168, 23218, 23301, 23304, 23307, 23320, 23432, 23501, 23521, 23601, 23631, 23662, 23694, 23701, 23801, 23821, 23824, 23827, 23830, 23831, 23834, 23839, 23842, 23847, 23851, 23860, 23867, 23879, 23901, 23915, 23923, 23938, 24000, 24053, 24054, 24058, 24059, 24060, 24064, 24065, 24072, 24086, 24112, 24127, 24141, 24153, 24201, 24210, 24215, 24217, 24218, 24224, 24244, 24311, 24312, 24314, 24317, 24326, 24401, 24413, 24416, 24421, 24422, 24426, 24435, 24445, 24450, 24501, 24517, 24520, 24521, 24522, 24523, 24526, 24527, 24540, 24602, 24603