Virginians already know how tough their state is on driving while intoxicated and the penalties that are related with drunk driving. If the police arrests and charges you for driving under the influence three or more times within a span of five years, you may be ineligible for bail while you wait for your trial to begin.
The penalties for drunk driving in the state of Virginia are as follows:
·First Offense – The state will revoke your driver’s license for one year and ask you to pay a minimum fine of $250.
·Second Offense – The state will revoke your driver’s license for three years and ask you to pay a minimum fine of $500 and you may have to serve a possible jail time of up to one year.
·Third Offense – The state will revoke your driver’s license for an unspecified duration and ask you to pay a minimum fine of $1,000 and prosecute it as a Class 6 felony.
·Fourth Offense or Subsequent Offense – The state will ask you to serve mandatory jail time of a minimum of one year.
In Virginia, the police will not only charge you with a DUI, but may also charge the passengers in the vehicle!
Charging Passengers in the Backseat with a DUI in Virginia
When you are a passenger in the car and are drunk, the police may also charge you with a DUI in Virginia.
Here is an example.
The police filed DUI charges against a passenger who had been sitting in the backseat of a car they had pulled over for drunk driving. The passenger got into an argument with the driver and in the heat of moment, grabbed the wheel of the car.
This caused the car to flip over on the road, resulting in five passengers receiving injuries while one passenger received life-threatening injuries due to the car accident. Since the passenger was drunk when they did that, the police charged the passenger with a DWI because they were operating the vehicle at the time of the accident even if they were not seated in the driving seat of the car.
The passenger admitted that they were drunk, but they did not believe that they should be charged with a DUI, as they were not driving the car. However, the grand jury presiding over at the trial saw the case differently and found the passenger guilty of driving while intoxicated. They tested the passenger with Evidential Breath Test (EBT) Breathalyzer andcharged the passenger with reckless driving and misdemeanor DWI.
Even a person takes the wheel for a moment, they can still be charged with a DUI. Therefore, it is important that you take DUI charges seriously and get the services of an experienced and professional DUI lawyer.
Feel free to get in touch with a DUI lawyer today.