A DUI charge in Chesapeake, Virginia is a serious matter, even if it is your first offense. A conviction can result in jail time, a suspended driver’s license, fines, mandatory alcohol education programs, and a permanent criminal record. If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Chesapeake, you need a DUI defense attorney who understands Virginia law and knows how to challenge the evidence against you.
At Inman & Strickler, P.L.C., our attorneys have handled DUI and DWI cases throughout Hampton Roads. We know how law enforcement officers conduct traffic stops, how breathalyzer and blood test results are obtained and sometimes mishandled, and how to build a defense that challenges the prosecution’s case from every angle.
Under Virginia Code § 18.2-266, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. For commercial drivers, the limit is 0.04%. For drivers under 21, any BAC of 0.02% or more can result in charges under Virginia’s zero-tolerance law.
Penalties for a first-offense DUI in Virginia include a mandatory minimum fine of $250, a one-year license suspension, and possible jail time. A second DUI within 10 years carries mandatory minimum jail time. A third offense is a felony with significant prison time. Aggravating factors — like a very high BAC or having a minor in the vehicle — can increase penalties significantly.
There is no such thing as an open-and-shut DUI case. Every arrest involves a series of steps — the initial stop, field sobriety testing, breathalyzer or chemical testing, and the arrest itself — and any of those steps can be challenged if an officer did not follow proper procedure.
Our attorneys will review the police dashcam and bodycam footage, examine whether there was valid legal justification for the traffic stop, scrutinize the calibration and maintenance records of the breathalyzer device used, and evaluate whether field sobriety tests were administered correctly. If something went wrong in the process, we will use it in your defense.
- Challenging the legality of the initial traffic stop
- Questioning the accuracy of breathalyzer or blood test results
- Examining field sobriety test procedures for errors
- Identifying constitutional violations in the stop or arrest
- Negotiating for reduced charges where appropriate
If you were arrested for DUI in Chesapeake, do not wait to get legal help. You have a limited window to take action before your license is administratively suspended, and the earlier an attorney is involved, the better positioned you are to fight the charges.
Contact Inman & Strickler, P.L.C. at 757-486-7055 to speak with a DUI defense attorney. For more information about related criminal defense matters, visit our main Chesapeake criminal defense page, our drug charge defense page, and our Chesapeake criminal defense contact page.
