Learn Critical Steps to Take After Your Virginia DUI Arrest from a Skilled Drunk Driving Attorney

The news section of our website is where our qualified Virginia criminal defense attorneys post up-to-date information on traffic offenses and DUI/DWIs that take place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This section will help you keep informed of the new laws and penalties surrounding reckless driving, drunk driving and other traffic offenses in the state of Virginia.

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Virginia DUI and DWI

• Fairfax Judge Dismisses DUI Charge Against Former FAA Head
  May 11, 2012

  J. Randolph Babbitt resigned his post as head of the Federal Aviation Administration when he was arrested for DUI in Fairfax City in December.  Police originally stopped Babbitt’s vehicle for driving on the wrong side of the road.  He was given field sobriety tests and an initial breath test which read .07%.  During yesterday’s trial, Fairfax Judge Ian O’Flaherty dismissed the case against Babbitt after viewing the video of the traffic stop.  He found that while the video did show Babbitt crossing the double solid yellow line during a turn, it did not show him driving on the wrong side of the road as the officer had indicated. 
  

• Redskin Safety, Meriweather, Arrested for DUI
  Apr 30, 2012

  Redskin safety Brandon Meriweather was arrested last week on I-66 in Arlington County.  Meriweather has been charged with DUI.  Reportedly, police stopped the vehicle Meriweather was driving for speeding around 3am and he refused to take a breath test.  Police say: “This was no different than any other DUI arrest or traffic stop initiated by our officers . . . Even though he is a Washington Redskin athlete, that does not grant him special treatment.”
  

• FAA Chief Arrested for DUI in Fairfax, Virginia
  Dec 06, 2011

  According to a Fairfax police spokesman, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Jerome Randolph Babbitt, was observed driving a vehicle on the wrong side of the road, just two blocks from a police station in Fairfax, VA, on Saturday night before being arrested and later charged with DUI.  Reports indicate that Mr. Babbitt has since requested and been granted an immediate leave of absence from the FAA. 

• Driver Attempts to Flee Northern Virginia DUI Checkpoint
  Aug 22, 2011

  Recently a Manassas man was arrested in Front Royal, Virginia after being stopped during a DUI checkpoint on Commerce Avenue.
  
  Authorities indicated that the Front Royal town police detective Jason Winner asked Randy R. Linamen, of 8724 Round Lane, for his driver's license and allegedly Linamen showed them a document titled "Drivers License" issued from the "Kingdom of Heaven."
  
  Police allege that Winner questioned the driver about the document, and Linamen accused Winner of committing treason and not upholding his oath. During this conversation, another police detective indicated that he spotted two speed loaders in the center console of the van Linamen was driving and asked Linamen to exit the vehicle.
  
  Authorities indicated that Linamen allegedly drove away from the checkpoint, and police had to physically remove him from his van when they caught up to him. Front Royal police allegedly found a loaded handgun in the driver's door pocket of Linamen's vehicle.
  
  After a sweep of his vehicle, police said they found three pipe bombs under the driver's front seat, but determined that they contained no explosive materials.
  
  They charged Linamen for two charges that included possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony and operating a motor vehicle after being declared a habitual offender. Linamen was taken to Warren County Jail. He is being held without bond and his first hearing has been scheduled for August 16, 2011 at 10 a.m. in Warren County General District Court.
  
  If you have been arrested for a crime in Virginia at a DUI sobriety checkpoint, call an experienced Manassas criminal defense lawyer at the Wilson Law Firm at (703) 361-6100 for a free legal consultation regarding your case.

• Virginia Officials Pool Resources to Combat Drunk Drivers
  Aug 13, 2011

  Virginia law enforcement has reduced the number of impaired drivers and DUI crashes in Northern Virginia and throughout the state. Officials indicated that over the last five years, the number of accidents related to alcohol and drugs has steadily declined.
  
  When comparing the numbers from Virginia drug and alcohol accidents to Maryland or the District of Columbia, one can see a noticeable difference. Maryland's drug and alcohol crashes have approximately been consistent over the same five year period, and the District of Columbia alcohol- and drug-related accidents have increased during the same period.
  
  What is making the difference?
  
  Virginia police indicate that they have recurrent sobriety checkpoints, education campaigns and saturation patrols that help reduce drunk drivers in Virginia. By having frequent checkpoints, they feel that they are effective in stopping drivers from driving drunk in the first place.
  
  Because it is difficult to get the money for extra patrols, six Northern Virginia agencies pooled their resources and teamed with each other when performing saturation patrols. During the most recent saturation, Northern Virginia police arrested 19 people for DUIs and wrote out 500 citations for various violations.
  
  The state of Virginia set up 623 DUI checkpoints last year alone.
  
  If you have been arrested for a Virginia DUI at a sobriety checkpoint, call an experienced Manassas drunk driving lawyer at the Wilson Law Firm at (703) 361-6100 for a free legal consultation regarding your case.

• Arlington Man Arrested for Virginia DUI After Short Car Chase
  Aug 11, 2011

  According to police updates by the Prince William County police department, an Arlington man allegedly led the Prince William County Police on a short pursuit on Sunday, July 25, 2011.
  
  The police arrested and charged this man with driving under the influence in Virginia; however, this arrest does not indicate a conviction at this time.
  
  Police said that Alejandro Juan Arellano, of 1000 block of Arlington Boulevard in Arlington, ignored their flashing lights and led them on a short car chase. Prince William County Police spokesman Jonathan Perok said that the officers attempted to pull Arellano's car over on Dale Boulevard near Forestdale Plaza; however, Arellano continued to drive.
  
  Police said that Arenallo ignored their sirens and flashing lights for a short time, but later pulled over near Cloverdale Road. Police claim that Arellano continued to ignore their commands, which is why they arrested him.
  
  This 26-year-old driver was charged with a Virginia DUI, felony eluding and driving without a driver's license.
  There is no further information on Arellano's bond information or court date at this time.
  
  If you have been arrested for a DUI in Northern Virginia, call an experienced Manassas DUI defense lawyer at the Wilson Law Firm at (703) 361-6100 for a free legal consultation regarding your case.

• Teen Convicted of Virginia DUI After Accident Claims Two Teen Passengers
  Jul 20, 2011

  On Sunday, July 3, 2011 a fatal crash in Lynchburg killed two teenagers. Police have charged the teen driver with driving under the influence in Virginia.
  
  Police said the fatal accident occurred around 9:20 p.m. along Virginia 43, near Virginia 896. A 16-year-old driver was traveling east on VA 43 when he allegedly ran his 1995 Ford Bronco off the side of the road, slamming into a tree and utility box.
  
  There were three teenagers in the vehicle and none of them were wearing seatbelts, according to police. The 16-year-old driver from Altavista, whose name has not been released, survived the crash, but he did sustain injuries. However, his two passengers Jenny K. Mattox, 19, of Lynchburg and 15-year-old Shawn M. Thacker, of Altavista, did not make it.
  
  Mattox was thrown from the car during impact and died at the crash site. Thacker was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital for medical care, but died later that night.
  
  The driver has been charged with failure to wear a seatbelt, driving with more than one passenger in the vehicle, underage possession of alcohol, and DUI in Virginia.
  
  We are saddened to hear of these fatalities and send our condolences to the family and friends affected by this crash.
  
  If you find yourself with a DUI/DWI charge, contact a qualified Virginia DUI defense lawyer at the Wilson Law Firm at (703) 361-6100 today for a free legal consultation.

• 117 Motorists Arrested for Virginia DUI This Past Holiday Weekend
  Jul 19, 2011

  Holiday weekends seem to be known for an increase in DUIs, drunk driving crashes and fatalities throughout this nation. This past Fourth of July holiday weekend in Virginia proved to be no different. In fact, police indicated that traffic deaths doubled compared to the same weekend last year.
  
  Virginia State Police reported that there were six fatalities in 2010 during the four-day holiday traveling weekend, compared to 13 deaths in 2011 during this same weekend period.
  
  The deaths occurred in Portsmouth, Chesterfield, Campbell, Accomack, Fairfax, Henrico, Alleghany, Albemarle and Prince Edward counties. Police indicated that four of these traffic fatalities were alcohol-related.
  
  Virginia State Police warned motorists prior to the Fourth of July that they would have more troopers traveling Virginia's highways this holiday as part of their annual Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (Operation CARE).
  
  They arrested 117 people for DUI in Virginia during the 2011 holiday weekend period, compared to 152 arrests made in 2010.
  
  If you have been arrested for DUI in Virginia, call an experienced Northern Virginia DUI defense lawyer at the Wilson Law Firm regarding your case at (703) 361-6100 for a free legal consultation.

• The Checkpoint Strikeforce Campaign is Back to Bust Virginia Drunk Drivers
  Jul 14, 2011

  Virginia's Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign is back. Every week from July 4, 2011 through January 2, 2012, there will be DUI checkpoints on selected roadways throughout the state of Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia.
  
  The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) has coordinated this 2011 massive public education campaign that will take place in Virginia, DC and Maryland. The Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign is intended to stop individuals from driving impaired. With the increase of sobriety checkpoints throughout the state and a public education campaign entitled "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest," officials hope to get their zero tolerance message across to motorists.
  
  Checkpoint Strikeforce was designed to educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving in Virginia and throughout our nation. The point of this campaign is to get impaired drivers off of the road, since there will be sobriety checkpoints every week. Motorists will never know when and where they will encounter a check point.
  
  Although this program started in 2002, it had major success and was expanded to a year-round effort in 2005. Now the program involves six months of intense DUI enforcement. What this means is that during the six months of intense enforcement there will be at least one sobriety checkpoint each week from July through December. From January through June, the campaign is in sustained mode, which requires one DUI checkpoint per month.
  
  This statewide campaign is hoping to raise awareness of drunk driving in Virginia to lower drunk driving accidents and injuries.
  
  If you find yourself facing a DUI/DWI charge, contact a skilled Northern Virginia DUI defense lawyer at the Wilson Law Firm regarding your case. Call (703) 361-6100 today for a free legal consultation.

• Virginia Lawmakers Approve Harsher Penalties for Underage Drinking and Driving
  Jul 05, 2011

  Recently the state of Virginia has announced that beginning July 1, 2011, it will charge higher penalties for underage drinking and driving. State lawmakers are considering a zero tolerance policy for drivers who are drinking and driving underage.
  
  These penalties for underage drinkers pulled over for a DUI will be a harsh new reality. Currently, the fine is not more than $500 and driver's license suspended for six months. The new law states that anyone under 21 years of age with a 0.02% blood alcohol level or higher will receive 50 hours of community service or a $500 fine, as well as a one full year driver's license suspension The driver's license suspension is not "up to a year." It is one complete year that a driver under the age of 21 would lose their license, if found guilty.
  
  Underage drinking and driving in Virginia will be considered a class 1 misdemeanor, and drivers older than 21 would be subject to a DUI charge if their blood alcohol level is over 0.08%.
  
  The state is focusing on teens drinking and driving because they believe teenage drivers are one of the highest risk groups on the roads, and underage drinking and driving is believed to be a huge problem. In 2010, Virginia officials convicted 1,285 drivers under the age of 21 of drunk driving in Virginia.
  
  Just last month, Carter Womick, another teen, was arrested for drunken driving after a car accident that critically injured his passenger.
  
  If you have been charged with underage drinking and driving or a DUI in Virginia, please contact a skilled Northern Virginia DUI defense lawyer at the Wilson Law Firm regarding your case. Call (703) 361-6100 today for a free legal consultation.

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The lawyers of The Wilson Law Firm have traveled Virginia’s several interstates helping clients just like you - appearing in courts all across the Commonwealth of Virgnia - from Virginia Beach and Norfolk in the southeast, to Wise County in the southwest, all the way up I-81 to Frederick County / Winchester in the northwest, and all the way across Warren County, Fauquier County, Prince William County, and Fairfax County on the way to Arlington County and the City of Alexandria in the northeast. The Wilson Law Firm regularly serves Prince William County, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, the towns of Haymarket, Fauquier County, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, the city of Fredericksburg, Loudoun County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, the city of Falls Church, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Culpeper County, Warren County, Clark County, Frederick County and the city of Winchester.