Top Rated Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI Lawyers • 1500+ Reviews

Best Law Firm 2024 Riley Wells Attorneys at Law - Traffic Ticket, Reckless Driving, Speeding, and Virginia Criminal Defense LawyerRiley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is a Charlottesville VA law firm that specializes in defending clients accused of driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Our top Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI lawyers possess over 60 years of combined Virginia DUI / DWI law experience and are routinely recognized for legal excellence and high ethical standards. We are a recognized “Best Law Firm” according to U.S. News & World Report. We represent clients before the Charlottesville Courts charged with DUI / DWI. Our attorneys have an established reputation for effectively representing clients accused of drunk driving. We have been positively reviewed more times than any other firm that defends Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI cases.

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Experienced Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI Attorney Best Defense

Experienced Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI Attorney Best DefenseDriving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a criminal offense that occurs when a person operates a motor vehicle while intoxicated with alcohol or drugs. A Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI arrest can be a devastating and embarrassing event. You need a non-judgmental advocate to give you straightforward legal advice about protecting your rights and interests before the Charlottesville Courts and presenting your best defense. You need an experienced Charlottesville DUI / DWI lawyer. Our top rated Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI Lawyers are dedicated to representing the best interests of clients. We use every resource the law allows to best protect our client. NOTE: An arrest is NOT a conviction.

Elite Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI Attorney Client Review

Liath Bricks
Quick response, professional staff, great service, and the best outcome I could hope for.

Driving Under The Influence Charlottesville VA Defense Specialists

Driving Under The Influence Charlottesville VA Defense SpecialistsOur Charlottesville DUI / DWI defense lawyers are either members of or have been recognized by various prominent national organizations such as the National College for DUI Defense and the National Advocacy for DUI Defense. It is our experience that clients with a Charlottesville DUI / DWI case benefit when their lawyer specializes. We understand that an arrest for drunk driving in Charlottesville VA can be embarrassing and devastating. Our role is to assist you with successfully navigating an often difficult landscape, not lecture you about decisions you made leading up to the arrest. The simple fact is you are in trouble with the law and need a non-judgmental advocate to give you straight forward legal advice and quality representation.

Free Consultation DUI Lawyer Charlottesville VA

Free Consultation DUI Lawyer Charlottesville VAIt can be difficult to find the right Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI lawyer. There are many things that you should consider before you retain a Charlottesville DUI / DWI defense attorney. Does the lawyer represent clients charged with DUI / DWI before the Charlottesville VA Courts? Engaging a Charlottesville DUI / DWI lawyer who is not familiar with the Judge who will decide your fate is usually not a wise choice. Evaluate the lawyer’s DUI / DWI legal knowledge and expertise along with reputation and accomplishments. Now is not the time to find out if your lawyer is up to the challenge. We offer a free consultation to demonstrate that we can present your best defense.

Effective Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI Lawyer

Effective Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI LawyerVirginia DUI law is complex. And the penalties can be harsh. In fact, Virginia has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country according to a study by WalletHub.  If you have been arrested for DUI / DWI in Charlottesville VA, then you need to retain the best Charlottesville Virginia DUI / DWI lawyer possible. Our attorneys are specially trained and possess extensive experience. We can help!

Charlottesville DUI / DWI Breath Testing

Charlottesville VA DUI Breath TestVa. Code Section 18.2-266 criminalizes the operation of a motor vehicle in Charlottesville if a chemical test proves the driver possesses a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more at the time of driving. It is also a violation of the Charlottesville DUI / DWI law for a motorist to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of illegal drugs or prescription medication. Breath Test evidence is significant to the prosecution’s DUI / DWI case but it is not required. In some cases, there is no blood test or breath test evidence. Allow us to review your case!

Charlottesville DUI / DWI Investigation Field Sobriety Testing

Charlottesville DUI / DWI Investigation Field Sobriety TestingIf Charlottesville Police, State Police, UVA Police or other local law enforcement officer stops a motorist for a traffic violation and suspects that the motorist may be intoxicated, then the police officer will transition the traffic stop into a DUI / DWI investigation. Every motorist who becomes the target of a Charlottesville DUI / DWI investigation will typically be asked to perform field sobriety exercises. These exercises or tests are completely VOLUNTARY.  A motorist is never required to perform any field sobriety exercise. NOTE: There is almost no scenario where a motorist should perform these tests

Elite Charlottesville DUI / DWI Attorneys by Virginia Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers for Virginia Criminal Law and Traffic DefenseSuper Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding attorneys from over 70 practice areas including DUI / DWI who have attained the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This organization recognizes the top lawyers nationwide across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes using a patented process of independent research and peer input. Our Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI  lawyers have been recognized by this publication since 2009. No more than five percent of the lawyers are named to this list and no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a top rated Charlottesville DUI / DWI attorney who has been recognized with this award.

Drunk Driving is Aggressively Enforced in Charlottesville

Drunk Driving is Aggressively Enforced in CharlottesvilleThe drunk driving laws are aggressively enforced by Charlottesville law enforcement officers and State Troopers. These state troopers and Charlottesville officers patrol I-64, Route 29 & Route 250 as well as the entire Charlottesville community. All these law enforcement agencies are on patrol for drunk driving offenders. These law enforcement agencies will frequently hold sobriety checkpoints and typically use the same protocol to investigate a Charlottesville DUI / DWI case, which will often include attempts to gather evidence from field sobriety testing and breath testing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Penalties

  • Possible incarceration
  • Ignition Interlock
  • Suspension or Revocation of Driving Privileges
  • Expensive fines
  • Probation
  • DUI education courses such as VASAP
  • Significant cost increases to or loss of automobile insurance
  • Loss of employment or employment opportunities

Charlottesville DUI / DWI Lawyer Defenses to Drunk Driving Cases

Charlottesville DUI / DWI Lawyer Defenses to Drunk Driving CasesCharlottesville DUI / DWI cases are complex. The success of the defense will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. We will investigate your case and look for every possible defense. It is important to remember that each Charlottesville DUI / DWI case is unique. The strength of the defense will depend on the evidence. Our experienced Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI attorneys will assess your case, identify the best defense strategies, and help you navigate the legal process. If you are facing a Charlottesville DUI /DWI charge, it is strongly recommended that you seek legal counsel from a top rated lawyer to protect your rights and build a strong defense. Some defenses may include the following:

  1. Challenging the Stop: Did the Charlottesville Police or State Police have a valid reason to stop your vehicle? If the initial traffic stop was unlawful, it may be possible to challenge the entire case.
  2. Lack of Probable Cause: To make an arrest, Charlottesville Police and State Troopers must have probable cause to believe you were driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated.
  3. Errors in Field Sobriety Tests: Field sobriety tests administered by Charlottesville VA authorities, such as the walk-and-turn, one-leg stand or horizontal gaze nystagmus are often used to assess impairment. These tests can be subjective and prone to errors.
  4. Problems with Breathalyzer Tests: Breathalyzer results conducted at the Jail can be influenced by various factors, and the device must be properly calibrated and maintained.
  5. Rising BAC: If your BAC was rising at the time of your arrest in Charlottesville VA, you may be able to argue that you were not above the legal limit while driving, even if you tested over the limit later at the police station.
  6. Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions or medications can affect a person’s ability to perform field sobriety tests or can cause false positives on breath tests.
  7. Necessity Defense: In rare cases, a necessity defense can be employed if you can show that driving under the influence was the only reasonable option to prevent a more significant harm.

Superb Avvo Rated DUI DWI Lawyer In Charlottesville

Superb Avvo Rated DUI DWI Lawyer In CharlottesvilleLegal ratings help those accused of a Charlottesville DUI / DWI find the best Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI lawyer. Avvo is a respected organization that can assist those individuals. From the Italian word for lawyer: “avvocato,” Avvo is a legal directory that rates attorneys using a mathematical model on a scale of 1 (Extreme  Caution) to 10 (Superb). Members of our Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI practice maintain a 10.0 Superb Avvo rating. Avvo collects relevant information from state bar associations, other organizations that license legal professionals and thousands of consumers to calculate its rating. The same set of standards is used on all who are evaluated. The Avvo rating is merit based. You cannot pay to improve your Avvo rating.

Charlottesville DUI / DWI Sobriety Checkpoint Defense Attorney

Charlottesville DUI / DWI Sobriety Checkpoint Defense AttorneyCharlottesville police will sometimes use a DUI / DWI checkpoint to apprehend intoxicated drivers. The Charlottesville police also catch drivers violating other criminal & traffic laws at sobriety checkpoints. These Charlottesville roadblocks are temporary and are supposed to be random. This law enforcement procedure permits the police to lawfully stop a vehicle and ask for driver’s license and vehicle registration. In reality, the Charlottesville police are often looking for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. The checkpoints have to be set up according to specific procedures and must be properly supervised. If you have been arrested at a Charlottesville DUI / DWI sobriety checkpoint, then you need a top rated Charlottesville DUI / DWI lawyer.

Virginia Implied Consent Law for Charlottesville DUI / DWI Cases

Virginia Implied Consent Law for Charlottesville DUI / DWI CasesThe Virginia implied consent law applies to Charlottesville DUI / DWI arrests. This law says that by driving on the state’s roads, you have impliedly consented to a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol content (BAC) if there is probable cause evidence that you operated a motor vehicle on the Charlottesville highway while intoxicated. The motorist does not get to choose between a blood or breath test. Unreasonable refusal of a breath or blood test can result in an additional charge that carries a driver’s license suspension if convicted. In some cases, the Charlottesville police officer will obtain a search warrant for blood if a driver refuses to take a chemical test.

Charlottesville Underage Drinking Alcohol Baby DUI / DWI

Charlottesville Underage Baby DUI / DWI • Driving After Illegally Consuming AlcoholPersons under age 21 driving in Charlottesville after illegally consuming alcohol is a criminal misdemeanor offense in Virginia. This offense is often referred to as a “Baby DUI.” Such persons may not operate a motor vehicle in Charlottesville with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.02 or more as indicated by a chemical test. This is not a drunk driving offense. The prosecution is not required to prove intoxication. However, the penalties for this offense are almost the same as a Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI conviction. The main distinction is that a chemical test is required. Charlottesville DUI / DWI cases can be proved even with no chemical test if other evidence proves intoxication.

Alcohol Safety Action Program For Charlottesville DUI DWI

Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) Required if Convicted of Charlottesville DUIThe local Charlottesville VASAP office is a court ordered program designed to address issues related to alcohol and substance abuse. If you are convicted of a Charlottesville DUI / DWI, then the Charlottesville Judge will order that you enroll with the local VASAP office for assessment, education, and treatment services if necessary. Individuals with more serious alcohol or substance abuse problems may be directed to substance abuse treatment programs. Charlottesville participants will likely be required to submit to random drug and alcohol testing. VASAP also monitors Ignition Interlock devices. Such orders can be transferred to another location if you are not from Charlottesville.

Ignition Interlock for Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI Cases

Ignition Interlock for Charlottesville VA DUI / DWI CasesA Charlottesville ignition interlock device is a breathalyzer-like device that is installed onto the ignition of a vehicle to prevent the operation of a vehicle if alcohol has been consumed. The driver must pass a breath test with the ignition interlock in order to start the vehicle. If the breath sample registers a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above a predetermined limit, the vehicle will not start. There may also be random rolling retests during operation to ensure that no alcohol has been consumed since starting the vehicle. Charlottesville ignition interlock violations are criminal offenses that can carry stiff penalties. In some cases, an ignition interlock device is not a required penalty if convicted of a Charlottesville DUI / DWI.

Top Charlottesville DUI DWI Lawyers Awarded Platinum Client Champion

Top Charlottesville DUI DWI Lawyers Awarded Platinum Client ChampionOur Charlottesville DUI DWI lawyers have been recognized with Martindale-Hubbell’s Platinum Client Champion Award. This prestigious honor recognizes superior attorneys for excellence. This award assists potential clients understand the real world experience previous clients have had with a law firm. Our Charlottesville Virginia DUI lawyers maintain a Platinum Rating – the highest rating possible. The Martindale-Hubbell Platinum Client Champion Award is given to law firms who have received the highest number of client reviews with a score greater than 4.5/5.0. This award is a testament to the dedication our Charlottesville DWI lawyers have to client service and a commitment to providing excellent legal representation. The award also recognizes our ability to navigate the legal landscape and obtain positive outcomes for clients.

Virginia DUI Penalties (⇓DMV DUI Brochure⇓)

Conviction for DUI first offense  Mandatory, minimum $250 fine  Driver’s license revocation for one year Conviction for DUI second offense  Mandatory, minimum $500 fine  Driver’s license revocation for three years  Possible jail term up to one year Conviction for DUI second offense within ten years of prior offense carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum ten-day jail term Conviction for DUI second offense within five years of prior offense carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum 20-day jail term Three DUI convictions within a ten-year period  Mandatory, indefinite driver’s license revocation  If your driving privilege is revoked for a first or second DUI offense conviction and you receive another DUI, the license revocation period will run consecutively with the existing revocation period. Conviction for DUI third offense or DWI felony  Mandatory, minimum $1,000 fine  Mandatory indefinite driver’s license revocation  Prosecution as a Class 6 felony Conviction for DUI third offense within five years carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum six-month jail term Conviction for DUI third offense within ten years carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum 90-day jail term  Permanent forfeiture of your vehicle (if you are the sole owner) Conviction for DUI fourth or subsequent offense  Mandatory, minimum one-year jail term BAC of 0.15% and not higher than 0.20% at the time of arrest  First offense carries a mandatory, minimum five-day jail term in addition to all other penalties  Second offense within ten years carries a mandatory, minimum ten-day jail term in addition to all other penalties BAC of 0.20% or higher at the time of arrest  First offense carries a mandatory, minimum ten-day jail term in addition to all other penalties

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9/21/2024 | Updated 4/23/2025

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