Be aware of the many consequences associated with the court of Virginia finding you guilty of DUI. While every state has laws against drunk driving, those laws and penalties may vary slightly between states.
According to the State of Virginia, it is one of 42 states in the country that immediately confiscates your driver’s license if your blood alcohol level is above .08 or if you refuse to submit to a blood alcohol test when the police pull you over.
You lose your license before you are guilty
In Virginia, the approach to DUI is two-pronged. There are the judicial procedures and the administrative procedures. It is the administrative part of the process that will separate you from your driver’s license prior to conviction. When the police pull you over and find that you are driving drunk, they will take your driver’s license and give you a 10-day temporary driving permit.
At this point, you may request a hearing to challenge your DUI case. If you do not, the temporary driver’s license will expire on the 11th day and your license will remain suspended for one calendar year. After this, you can get a restricted license that allows you to drive to work, school, parole or probation meetings, drug and alcohol counseling, court-approved locations, healthcare providers and emergencies.
Driving during this time
The alternative to a year of administrative suspension is an ignition interlock device. A third party will install an ignition interlock device in your car. You must blow into the device to prove that you have not consumed alcohol prior to operating the vehicle. The length of time you must have an ignition interlock device installed depends on the nature of your DUI case.
