Falls Church DUI Lawyer

Imagine not being able to drive. Having to ask your friends to drive you to the grocery store. Walking to the bus stop in the pouring rain just to get to work.

Does that sound appealing? Probably not. However, you may lose your driving privileges if you have an administrative license suspension in Falls Church, VA.

How can your license be suspended?

An administrative license suspension occurs when a driver is pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and refuses to submit to a field sobriety test or blood, breath or urine tests to determine blood alcohol content (BAC) if requested by a police officer. The license may be suspended even if the driver is not convicted of DUI.

This license suspension is created by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The license suspension occurs in addition to any other penalties incurred as a result of a DUI conviction in a criminal court.

This suspension may also occur if the driver is found to be driving with a BAC of .08 percent or higher, or .02 percent if the driver is under the age of 21.

The administrative license suspension lasts seven days for the driver’s first offense and sixty days for the driver’s second offense. If the driver is charged with a DUI or refuses the test for the third time, the license will be suspended until the trial date.

To contest an administrative license suspension, the driver must return to the court in the location where the arrest occurred. The driver, or his or her lawyer, may immediately begin proceedings to have the license reinstated.

It is imperative that the driver not drive while waiting to have his or her license reinstated. Drivers who are found to be driving on a suspended license will have their vehicle impounded for 30 days. The court may also impound the vehicle for an additional 90 days following a DUI conviction.

If you want to save your license, as well as avoid jail time and hefty fines, you need an attorney who is experienced in DUI defense in Falls Church.