Now that you are aware that experiencing DUI requires you to face penalties, let us now take a look the matters that affected your case as a whole. You will not be filed a case unless the law enforcers have seen unlawful action on your part. And you have to deal with the legal matters as soon as possible in order not to do something that will pull you in the dearth of incarceration.

cbslocal.com
Typically, the very reason why you were stopped was because law enforcers have seen sign of impairment in your driving actions. You may have been swerving or erratically driving that alerted the cops for them to stop your car and check your condition as a driver. It is a standard operating procedures in part of the cops, as they are allowed to pull you over when they have a probable cause to believe that you were driving erratically.

Being caught in DUI is a crumpled situation you have to settle straight. Driving Under the Influence is a criminal case, and if you will not be careful in dealing with it, there is a big possibility that you will be caught in jail while dealing with tantamount charges. Huge penalties, fines, community service, and incarceration is never a good idea, and if you want to get out of the mess, you will be needing a criminal defense lawyer who will defend your cause. In this trying time, your future is at stake, and you need to make a way not to taint your name in the eyes of the law.
What are the elements that cover DUI?
Driving Under The Influence – every state in the US make DUI a criminal offense. DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) and OUI (Operating Under The Influence) in some states, DUI is defined to be driving while impaired by drugs or alcoholic beverages or can be a combination of both. Regardless of alcohol-content found in the tests, as long as the person has been found operating his or her vehicle with a hint of alcohol in his breath, law enforcers have to follow the rule of the state and charge the offender with DUI. Also, the person is “Under The Influence” when his ability to drive is impaired in an appreciable level.

Image Source: article.wn.com
In 2010, there were 10,228 people killed because of drunk driving adding up to more or less 350,000 injuries in the United States alone. DUI or abbreviation for Driving Under the Influence is one of the highest causes of death in our roadways, and it resulted to tough implementation of laws in various US States to prevent drunk-driving related fatalities to continue growing each year. The impact of DUI is not simply directed to the people who were injured and lost their lives. It affects even the people who are far from the crash; with their family, co-workers, friends, and every person dear to them to suffer emotionally from the tragic incident.
In a data presented by MADD, it states that Virginia ranks 23 among all states with the number of DUI fatalities of 1,360 in past 5 years and granted $7.07 billion as state subsidy for drunk driving fatalities. In the recent year, Virginia has already have 211 recorded DUI fatalities wherein 29 resulted to deaths. However, good thing for Virginia as the state reduced its percentage to 13% from the last year which hopefully will continue to decrease in the next years.
Learn More About Reckless Driving: Elements, Conduct, Penalties
Image Source: dalyplanet.blogspot.com
Like driving under the influence (DUI/DWI), reckless driving or operating a vehicle in a dangerous manner can bring your name in court where you have to face the jury and get through the consequences of your violation against the proper traffic conduct. Unlike DUI offenses wherein the driver may be unaware of his act due to the impairing influence of alcohol or drugs; reckless driving differ because it involves "willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property," thus making him or her guilty of the charge.
The new Virginia DUI law takes effect immediately on July 1, 2012 : Senate Bill 889 classified it under Class 1 misdemeanor to drive or operate any motor vehicle without an ignition interlock device (IID) installed when one is required, and would also suspend the driver's license of the offender for one year. On the hand, the Senate Bill 1463 mandated that an IDD should be installed as a requirement for the restoration of driving privileges for all DUI repeat offenders. Lastly, House Bill 2532 pointed out that specifies that locale are entitled to repayment from DUI offenders as compensation for the expenses in connection to law enforcement response.
However, the court may pardon you by re-issuing a restricted license for any purposes permitted by law, it may include: school, to and from work, ASAP classes, medical appointments and religious services, to and from work.
The convicted driver may opt not to drive for a year then ignition interlock would not be required anymore. Even so, if the driver request a restricted license then there would be mandatory installment of ignition interlock devices, which includes the expenses for installment and servicing.
All US states have their own strategies on eradicating DUI related accidents, the state of Virginia, specifically, has a very tough law in regards with DUI.
Being arrested of DUI entails heavy consequences, it could include fines, incarceration and suspension of driver's license. Take note that DUI is not a simple traffic violation but a criminal offense.
Do you know that?
- in 2009 it was recorded that at least one-alcohol impaired
driving fatality occurred every 48 minutes.
- over 40% of fatal road accidents are alcohol-related.
- According to estimates, someone is injured in an alcohol-related accidents every year.
- NHTSA, found in 2009 that 1 in 3 people will be involved in a crash related to drunk-driving at least once in their life.
These are the 'little known facts' about DUI, meaning only a few numbers of road users give extra time and effort to research and read about useful information about such felony.
It is important for us to be educated on DUI laws and facts, it will make us us more conscious when it come to our driving , and would develop a 'drive with conscience' mentally within us.