Police officers typically only pull people over when they suspect certain traffic violations. Suspicions of chemical intoxication are a common reason to conduct traffic stops. During a traffic stop, police officers may issue a citation or may attempt to gather...
Fairfax Criminal Defense Law Blog
What role can a PAS device have in a drunk driving case?
A preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) device is a tool used by law enforcement officers during drunk driving investigations. This portable breath test device allows officers to conduct a quick field assessment of a driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Unlike...
Can a criminal charge impact a security clearance?
Being charged with a crime can be a stressful experience. When you work in an industry that requires a security clearance, the stress level can be even higher. Losing your clearance might mean losing your job, so it's crucial to understand the impact a criminal charge...
When can shoplifting in Virginia result in grand larceny charges?
There are quite a few different behaviors that could lead to someone's arrest and prosecution for a shoplifting offense in Virginia. The state penalizes acts ranging from placing objects inside other products to conceal them and changing price tags to simply running...
How Virginia penalizes DUI offenses
People often think that because it is a victimless crime that DUI charges won't lead to major penalties in most cases. It is quite common for people to plead guilty to DUI charges, sometimes without even learning the penalties they face beforehand. Pleading guilty to...
Does your BAC go up faster with different types of alcohol?
You know well that you don’t want to be driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC), that is over 0.08%. That is the legal limit for the majority of drivers in Virginia. There are lower limits for drivers who are under 21 years old or for commercial drivers, but...
Do field sobriety tests work?
One of the most common things that police officers do to determine if someone is impaired is to put them through field sobriety tests. One of the advantages of using these tests is that they can show impairment based on other substances. For instance, someone who has...
When does a criminal charge affect your immigration rights?
Immigrants only have temporary authorization to live in the United States, and mistakes they make can lead to removal from the country. If they want to stay here or become citizens, immigrants must meet certain criteria and comply with domestic laws. Criminal...
Every new traffic ticket brings you closer to losing your license
As soon as you hear the sirens or notice the lights in your mirrors, you will probably start thinking about what a ticket might mean. When a police officer issues a citation, you will pay possibly hundreds of dollars to the courts. You will then pay secondary costs in...
Is a reckless driving citation really that serious in Virginia?
There are many kinds of traffic tickets that you could face in Virginia, but one of the more common is a reckless driving citation. When you’re accused of reckless driving, the officer is saying that you were speeding or driving in a reckless way that was putting...