Things To Know About Henrico County DUIs

A driving under the influence (DUI) attorney in Henrico discusses several things all defendants charged with DUIs in Henrico should know about. Since law enforcement and prosecutors take DUI cases seriously, it’s important to retain legal counsel if you are charged.

First, individuals need to know the possible penalties involved in their particular DUI case. Often clients are shocked by the significant and long term penalties applied. Not only is there an issue of jail but there’s also the following:

• Possible long term license suspensions
• Required alcohol counseling
• Increased insurance costs for years to come
• Obligations regarding the restricted operator’s license

It’s very important to understand what you’re facing and the penalties involved.

Next, individuals also need to know what the state has to prove in order to get a DUI conviction and how the laws have been written over the years to make prosecution and conviction of DUI charges that much easier for prosecutors. No matter how you felt at the time of the arrest or how much you drank, under Virginia law, if you provide a blood alcohol sample that’s an 0.08 or higher, you are considered to be intoxicated.

So I spend much of my initial consultations with clients advising them of the laws in Virginia and how the state goes about proving a case and in many cases, how easy it is for the state to get a conviction on a DUI.

Lastly, you need to know what defenses are available and what steps they can take toward mitigation. Often with a DUI, we are looking for specific issues and/or technical defenses that you would not be aware of unless you’re an experienced DUI attorney in Henrico.

In addition to that, we will also ask and recommend that our clients take proactive steps to mitigate the damages in cases like these. These mitigation steps often come down to alcohol and substance abuse counseling.

A Henrico DUI case from arraignment to trial typically takes about 45 to 60 days. Extensions can be given and often granted if there is a need for further testing, examination, or if there’s an agreement between the defense and the commonwealth attorney to continue the case. This means that the case, from start to finish, often does not take very long. Make sure you contact an attorney as soon as you can for two main reasons.

First, if you consult with a DUI lawyer early on, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about your case sooner. Second, if you opt to retain an attorney, then your lawyer can begin preparing your defense earlier.