Virginia DUI Laws

Contributor

By Heidi Lowry
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (0 Ratings)

According to laws in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher is illegal. Along with a DUI conviction, offenders also face state-specific penalties in Virginia.

License Suspension

Virginia law permits administrative license suspensions in DUI cases. If a person is pulled over and refuses to take a chemical test or fails to pass the test, he is subject to a 7-day suspension of his license. These suspensions occur immediately at arrest and before conviction.

Restored Driving Privileges

During the license-suspension period, there are no circumstances under which a person can get her driving privileges reinstated.

Interlock Devices

Ignition interlocks disable a vehicle when the driver is too drunk to drive. An individual must blow into the device before the car will start to measure breath-alcohol level. Virginia requires installation of an ignition interlock as a DUI penalty.

Multiple Offenses

In Virgina, not only do the consequences for multiple DUIs get stricter as more and more are accumulated, but an offender is required to forfeit his vehicle for multiple DUI convictions.

Open Container Laws

There are no laws against driving with an open container of alcohol in Virginia. However, drinking while driving is not advised as it can cause accidents, DUI convictions and injuries.