Virginia DUI Child Endangerment
Driving under the influence (DUI) offenses are taken very seriously in Virginia. If convicted of this crime, you could be ordered to serve jail time, pay fines, and attend alcohol education courses. However, some offenses could result in enhanced penalties. If you were stopped on suspicion of drunk driving and the officer discovers that you were transporting a minor under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, you could be charged with Virginia DUI child endangerment. The punishment for this offense is severe, so hiring an experienced Virginia DUI defense lawyer for representation is strongly advised.
The punishment for Virginia DUI child endangerment could include a mandatory five-day jail sentence as well as an additional $500-$1,000 in fines. For a second offense, you could be sentenced to increased jail time and fines as well as an additional 80 hours of community service. Other factors could also lead to an enhanced punishment, such as having prior DUI convictions on your record or possessing a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15% or higher.
In addition to these serious penalties, your conviction will also be reported on your criminal record, which can be accessed by the public. With a DUI child endangerment offense on your record, you could have difficulty when applying for a new job. In some cases, your current employer could fire you if a clean driving and/or criminal record is required for your position.
Fight a DUI child endangerment charge is possible with a skilled defense lawyer on your side. Your lawyer can review the aspects of your case to determine if an appropriate defense can be used. For example, if the officer pulled you over and arrested you without probable cause, any evidence obtained could be inadmissible and your case can be thrown out.
A DUI lawyer can also look into your BAC reading to determine if it was accurate or flawed. Because the BAC result is often the cornerstone of the prosecution’s case, challenging the reading can go a long way in helping your defense.
If you are facing a Virginia DUI child endangerment charge, time is of the essence. Contact The Law Office of Michael C. Tillotson as soon as possible to begin preparing a defense and to contest your automatic license suspension. Please enter your case information now for a free case evaluation.
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