Mecklenburg DUI Lawyer
A driver that is convicted of DUI in Mecklenburg County is subject to various penalties, which are impacted based on the number of prior convictions for related acts and the age of the offender. In addition to criminal penalties, a driver that is convicted of DUI is subject to administrative penalties.
A DUI conviction can come with serious consequences, so someone facing charges needs to consult with a Mecklenburg DUI lawyer who can begin crafting the strongest defense possible right away. An experienced defense attorney can work hard to obtain a positive outcome in their client’s case.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Blood alcohol content, or BAC, is the method that is used to determine whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol. In Virginia, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher constitutes being under the influence of alcohol. A BAC of .04 establishes that a driver is impaired.
If the driver is under the age of 21, the legal age to drink alcohol, a BAC of 0.02 or higher also constitutes driving under the influence in Virginia.
DUI Penalties
Driving under the influence is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and the criminal penalties include fines up to $2,500, up to one-year incarceration, or both. The administrative penalties for DUI include a revocation of the driver’s licenses for up to one year.
Drivers may also be subject to attending an alcohol safety program and the installation of an ignition interlock system in the vehicle when the driver’s license is reinstated. A Mecklenburg DUI attorney is helpful in navigating these potential penalties.
Any costs associated with the reinstatement of a driver’s license, attending alcohol safety programs, and installing or maintaining the required ignition interlock system have to be paid by the driver. Additionally, the expenses of a charge for DUI also include increased insurance premiums.
Out of State DUIs
An out-of-state driver in Mecklenburg County may have their court date moved to accommodate traveling for the DUI hearing. The accused’s attorney can file a motion with the court to have the date of the hearing adjusted to accommodate scheduling conflicts associated with traveling. Not requesting a date change and not appearing for a hearing would result in a bench warrant being issued.
A bench warrant is an arrest warrant, which requires law enforcement to arrest a driver that failed to appear for a hearing, which can include a DUI hearing. A bench warrant can be served on a driver during a routine traffic stop at any time, in any state.
Additionally, law enforcement can contact the governor’s office of the driver’s home state to request that an extradition warrant is issued. This would allow local law enforcement to come to the driver’s home in any state to arrest the driver until Virginia law enforcement transports them back to court.
Contacting a Mecklenburg DUI Attorney
There are a number of benefits to working with a local attorney when charged with DUI in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. A Mecklenburg DUI attorney is familiar with the prosecutors and judges and has a general sense of what jurors in the county are likely to do in a particular type of case.
Someone who is familiar with the local landscape has a good understanding of the personalities of the involved parties, which can make a difference in DUI cases. This information can help a client to make the best decision possible in deciding whether they wish to take their case to trial or to resolve it by a plea agreement.
If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Mecklenburg County, protect your interests by consulting an experienced Mecklenburg DUI lawyer.