Elements of a Prince William County DUI Charge
Attorney for DUI Arrests & Charges in Prince William County
Whether you are already facing DWI/DUI charges, have been arrested or are simply looking for more information about drunk driving-related criminal offenses, we can help. In addition to offering a complimentary consultation with an attorney to discuss your case, we have compiled some basic information about the elements of a DUI charge in the Prince William County area.
In Virginia, these charges are referred to as driving while intoxicated (DWI), which involves operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. There are 5 different ways that a person may be considered DWI:
- Operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater
- Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both
- Operating a vehicle with the following levels of controlled substances:
- .02 milligrams of cocaine per liter of blood
- .1 milligrams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) per liter of blood
- .1 milligrams of methamphetamine per liter of blood
- .01 milligrams of phencyclidine (PCP) per liter of blood
Proving a Driver is Intoxicated/Under the Influence
Although a breath test that shows a result above the legal limit may be the primary evidence used against a driver in a Prince William County DUI case, there are situations where breath or blood test evidence is not necessary and the prosecuting attorney may work to prove the case based upon circumstantial evidence of intoxication, such as slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, or poor performance on field sobriety tests, which would indicate an impairment of the driver's normal abilities (lack of balance, poor coordination, etc.)
Contact a Prince William County DUI lawyer at our law offices today if you are interested in learning more about the elements of a DUI charge and how this may affect you.