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Blog 
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Info for drivers facing a drunk driving charge in VA Beach or Norfolk
- Government Estimates Millions Drive While Drunk in U.S. Each Year
- Changes to "Move Over" law effective July 1, 2010
- National "Click It or Ticket" campaign begins today
- Special license plates for convicted DUI offenders?
Firm News
Manslaughter charges for three DUI related Norfolk car crash deaths?
Posted on 8/26/2010
Virginia Beach driver accused of DUI deaths in crash pleads guilty
Posted on 8/25/2010
Former Virginia Beach deputy sentenced in DUI crash case
Posted on 6/27/2010
Shore Drive speed limit lowered to 35
Posted on 6/4/2010
Child Abuse Charges for Virginia Beach DUI Driver with Kids in Car
Posted on 5/31/2010
DUI Conviction for Former Virginia Beach Police Officer
Posted on 5/28/2010
Felony charges for "sexting" Franklin teens
Posted on 5/20/2010
Are alcoholic energy drinks to blame for Virginia Beach DUI death?
Posted on 4/30/2010
Virginia Beach city employee charged with DUI after hit-and-run crash
Posted on 4/30/2010
Bond revoked for man accused in Virginia Beach DUI hit-and-run
Posted on 4/26/2010
Firm Library
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Can the Virginia bar or restaurant where you were drinking be held responsible for your DUI?
- What to expect after a Virginia DUI arrest
- Virginia DUI Attorney: Why you need to FIGHT HARD against DUI charges
- The high stakes of a DUI conviction in Virginia
- Virginia's Move Over/Slow Down law regarding emergency vehicles
The Federal Government’s Answer to Hard Core Drinking and Driving
If you’re wondering why Virginia and other states have been enacting stricter and stricter laws regarding drinking and driving, look no further than the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB maintains a list of “most wanted” transportation safety improvements at the federal and state level, and right now they are highlighting hard core drinking and driving as a major issue for states like Virginia to address.
The NTSB defines a “hard core drinking driver” as a repeat offender with a prior DWI arrest or conviction within the past 10 years, or an offender with a BAC of 0.15% or greater. The agency believes that these drivers are at an increased risk for causing crashes, injuries, and fatalities. All of their recommendations for changes to state laws involve further crackdowns on these so-called “hard core drinking drivers”.
How States Should Eliminate Hard Core Drinking and Driving
According to the NTSB, in 2005 hard core drinking drivers were involved in a minimum of 9,236 (54.7%) alcohol related fatalities, the estimated cost of which was over $9.1 billion. In order to reduce the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalites caused by these drivers, the Board would like to see states enact the following program elements:
- Statewide sobriety checkpoints
- Vehicle sanctions to restrict or separate hard core drinking drivers from their vehicles
- State and community cooperative programs to enforce DWI driver’s license suspension and revocation
- Legislation to require that DWI offenders maintain a zero BAC while operating a motor vehicle
- Legislation that defines a high BAC (0.15 percent or greater) as an “aggravated” DWI offense
- Alternatives to confinement, such as home detention with electronic monitoring
- Legislation that restricts the plea bargaining of a DWI offense to a lesser, non-alcohol-related offense
- Elimination of diversion programs that permit erasing, deferring, or otherwise purging the DWI offense record or that allow the offender to avoid license suspension
- Administrative license revocation (ALR) for BAC test failure and refusal
- A DWI record retention and DWI offense enhancement look-back period of at least 10 years
- Individualized sanction programs for hard core DWI offenders.
Aggressive moves by federal and state officials to increase penalties for drinking and driving related accidents means that you need to take your DUI charge seriously. We encourage you to speak with an experienced DUI attorney in order to ensure that you are treated fairly by the courts and that you aren’t unfairly punished as part of a crackdown campaign by a state looking to please the federal government.
If you need the assistance of a law firm skilled at DUI defense that will give your case the personal attention it deserves, please contact Weisberg & Zaleski immediately to find out how we can help you.
Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
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Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
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FAQs
DUI, Traffic and Criminal Law Defense
- Will a traffic court's determination of guilt or innocence affect the outcome of my civil suit for personal injury?
- If I am guilty of the charge, shouldn't I plead guilty and pay the fine?
- Do you guarantee that my case will be successful?
- I have been asked to sign some forms by the police officers. What should I do?
- When should an attorney be present with me?