It's late. You had a few drinks. You feel fine. You say goodbye to your colleagues in Charlottesville and head home. Little do you know a cop across the street had been waiting for the next person to leave the bar. You get into your vehicle and pull up to the traffic light, and on the red light, ...
Driving while under the influence of drugs in the Commonwealth of Virginia is illegal, and this includes the use of the drug commonly referred to as "ecstasy." When driving under the influence of this kind of drug, a person can be stopped and arrested for DUI. What is Ecstasy? Ecstasy is a man-...
Halloween isn't just for kids. Many adults enjoy this time of year. While kids are going door to door for their treats, many adults enjoy getting dressed up as vampires and celebrities to attend adult parties. Alcohol is often a treat as these parties. So, it goes without saying: be safe and don'...
The Virginia General Assembly passed in early September 2019 House Bill (HB) 1941. This bill, named Driving while intoxicated or operating watercraft while intoxicated; maiming, etc., of another (DUI Maiming), will make penalties more severe for persons charged and convicted under it. The bill wi...
Like all of us, police make mistakes, and these mistakes are especially common to DUI investigations in Virginia. The police have already made up their minds at first glance that you are driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. They are anxious to make an arrest. And through their a...
So, you were pulled over for a DUI in Charlottesville. Maybe you didn't hire an attorney or didn't vet an attorney thoroughly enough, and now you have been convicted of your first, second, or subsequent Virginia DUI. A conviction means driver's license suspension for at least one year – the leng...
When a police officer pulls you over in Virginia, whether it's day or night, it's often for a violation of a traffic offense. Sometimes this simple traffic stop can turn into something much worse, like an arrest for a DUI. This often happens when the officer smells alcohol in the vehicle or on yo...
It's summer. It's hot outside. Inside, you had one too many alcoholic beverages. Upon getting in your vehicle in the parking lot, you decide to close your eyes for a minute – to wait out the alcohol. As the night progresses and the parking lot empties, the police find your vehicle still parked. T...
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled (vote 8 to 7) that a lawsuit challenging Virginia's interdiction law can move forward. This isn't a law that would affect a large number of people, but those who are affected face serious consequences. The Virginia attorney general's office is defe...
When a person is under the influence of drugs and gets behind the wheel, he or she is at risk of being charged with a Virginia DUI. This includes when a person uses the drug ecstasy. The drug can have serious effects on a person's ability to drive safely and legally. What is Ecstasy? Ecstasy is...
A suspected intoxicated driver slammed into a home on Bainbridge Street in Richmond, VA, injuring two men. The impact occurred on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at around 11:25 p.m. Richmond police officers were dispatched to the scene after calls that a vehicle had struck a structure. After investig...
A man now faces charges after taking police on a high-speed chase, in a stolen car, while under the influence of methamphetamine. A Wise County deputy was flagged down on May 22, 2019, by a citizen who wanted to report a stolen car at around 3:30 p.m. The deputy was flagged down around Kent Junc...
Most people, when thinking about a DUI, picture the drunk driver with bottles of alcohol strewn about the car. However, when a person drives under the influence of drugs, such as methamphetamine, he or she can just as easily be charged with DUI. Methamphetamine is an illegal drug, and its use wh...
A state lawmaker in the Commonwealth of Virginia recently pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI). State Delegate Matthew James entered into a plea agreement Monday, April 22, 2019. The agreement allows him to avoid jail time so long as he does not violate the law or his probation ...
An employee of Clemson University faces a civil wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a DUI charge. David Robert Lee, age 37, was charged with a DUI first-offense after he struck a 79-year-old woman who was crossing Main Street in downtown Greenville on March 8, 2019. On that date, Virginia Byrn...
A recent crash that occurred in the 4800 block of Providence Road, near Newmarket Drive, resulted in the death of two women. The accident occurred on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at around 3:30 a.m. When police arrived on the scene, they approached a Toyota sedan which had been involved in the accide...
A woman from Stafford County, Virginia was arrested for a suspected DUI after police allege she drank a small box of wine at Target and then left the store and drove away. Diana Thorne, age 30, was pulled over on Friday, March 1, 2019, while still in Stafford County. The stop was initiated by a ...
The United States Supreme Court is considering a novel issue that may greatly impact driving under the influence (DUI) charges in the future. In the case of Mitchell v. Wisconsin, Gerald P. Mitchell allegedly became so intoxicated that he passed out and became unconscious. Under Wisconsin's impl...
A man from Unionville was arrested Sunday, December 23, 2018, and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and manslaughter as the result of a crash that involved three vehicles. One person was killed and four more were injured as a consequence of the crash. The accident occurred at around...
When most people think about a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) in the Commonwealth of Virginia, they tend to think about driving drunk (i.e., under the influence of alcohol). However, a person can be convicted of driving under the influence of drugs, including heroin. What is Heroin?...
When a person is charged or convicted of a Virginia DUI, he or she faces many different kinds of penalties, including jail time, high fines, and loss of his or her right to drive. That person may also be out on bond or put on probation and required to wear a device called a SCRAM bracelet. SCRAM ...
When most people think about a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) in the Commonwealth of Virginia, they tend to think about driving drunk (i.e. under the influence of alcohol). However, a person can be convicted of driving under the influence of drugs, including the illegal drug cocaine....
For those who love beer, the significant expansion of the craft beer industry in the United States has brought many unexpected charges of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. Craft beer is typically stronger than regular "off the shelf" or "light" beers. Many people are used to knowing h...
A charge of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is a serious charge in the Commonwealth of Virginia. While most people think of the typical "drunk driver" when thinking about DUI charges, some drivers can be arrested for alleged drinking and driving when they never had a drink. If you h...
Field sobriety tests are used by Virginia law enforcement to determine if a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, these "tests" are inaccurate and even at times completely deceptive of a person's true level of intoxication. A number of different medical or physical conditio...
In criminal cases, time is a crucial factor. Retaining an attorney as soon as you are charged is important. Contact the law offices of Bryan J. Jones, LLC to defend your case and help develop a strategy tailored just for you.
