Virginia Lawmakers Crack Down on Underage Drinking and Driving

Even though Virginia has a zero-tolerance law on underage drinking and driving, motor vehicle accidents are still the leading cause of death among teenagers. In 2010, 35 teen driver died in motor vehicle accidents, along with another 4,118 teen driver injuries in Virginia. There were also 1,285 drivers under 21 years of age convicted of drinking and driving in the Commonwealth in 2010. As a result, Virginia lawmakers passed a bill in February increasing the penalties for underage drinking and driving. This law went into effect on July 1, 2011.
Prior to this law, the penalties for underage drinking and driving included:

• Forfeiting the license for six months
• Fine of not more than $500
• Attendance and completion of the Alcohol Safety Action Program (required of some, but not all, teens caught drinking and driving)

Under the new Virginia law, Va. Code 18.2-266.1, any driver under the age of 21 caught with a blood alcohol content of .02 or higher will now be charged with a class one misdemeanor, which becomes a part of the driver's record. Additionally, the following penalties apply if convicted:

• Mandatory license suspension for one year
• Either a fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service

We believe the strict new law will help deter teens from driving under the influence (DUI), which should decrease the number of car accidents caused by teen drivers each year. To teen drivers, freedom is a necessity. The thought of forfeiting their license and losing that very freedom is terrifying to new drivers.
If your teen driver has been charged with driving under the influence, contact Michael Weisberg, an experienced Virginia car accident lawyer, at (800) 690-0235 for answers to your questions. A class one misdemeanor is a serious offense; we can help.