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Virginia is tough on drunk drivers and as a DUI defendant the odds are not in your favor. The punishments for a Virginia DUI conviction are severe, but with the help of an experienced DUI attorney, such as Bob Keefer, you might be able to get your case reduced or dismissed. The Keefer Law Firm, based in Harrisburg, VA, specializes in DUI, DWI, reckless driving and traffic cases. Bob Keefer has over 25 years of experience and will fight to win your case.

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Virginia DWI & DUI

If you are arrested for drinking and driving, the odds are not in your favor. The judge, prosecution and law enforcement are against you. They want to make sure that you pay the price for your DUI. That is why you need to have someone on your side.

The state of Virginia prides itself on being tough on drunk drivers, which means you will face severe consequences if you are convicted. You must know your rights as a DUI defendant and should always seek legal counsel before entering the courtroom. There are aspects of the legal system that you may not know, but with the help of a DUI attorney, who has extensive knowledge of the Virginia DUI laws, you can win your case.

Virginia DUI Law
Virginia is known for its harsh judgments in DUI cases. The section of the Virginia Code that covers DUI law is over 40 pages. The Virginia courts hear so many DUI cases, that defendants are encouraged to quickly admit guilt, just to keep the cases moving through. You are entitled to a fair and just trial and do not have to settle for a quick case. Make sure you have someone representing you and looking out for your best interests. Bob Keefer, a Virginia DUI lawyer with over 24 years of experience, will get you the fair hearing you deserve.

A DUI conviction carries a serious punishment that can affect you for years to come. The conviction will remain on your record and is considered a criminal offense. Your employment could be negatively impacted by a DUI and consequently, your family’s financial wellbeing could be in jeopardy.

The punishment for a DUI conviction varies between the jurisdictions and also depends on the facts of your case. With any Virginia DUI conviction, you may be required to serve time in jail.

A first time offense may have a court fine of up to $2,500.00 and your driver’s license will be revoked for one year. In addition, you will have to attend a DUI education program provided by the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) and will be on probation for one year. A second offense will result in a three year driver’s license suspension and another fine. A third offense within ten years will be prosecuted as a Class 6 felony with mandatory time and a fourth offense will require a mandatory minimum jail term of one year.

If you are given a sentence enhancement, you will be facing a worse punishment. Common reasons for enhancements include:

  • A past offense occurred within 5 to 10 years of the current offense.
  • A child was in the car at the time of the incident.
  • Your blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) was over .15% or .20%.
  • You refused to submit to a chemical test.
  • Property was damaged or someone was injured.
  • You were under 21 years of age at the time of the arrest.
Virginia has an implied consent law, which basically means that licensed drivers already consent to breath or blood tests to measure their BAC. If you refuse to submit to one of these tests after being arrested for drunk driving, your driver’s license could be suspended for an additional year if you are convicted.

Contact Bob Keefer at (540) 433-6906 for expert advice on your DUI or DWI case.

DUI Defense
DUI cases are complex and involve many legal and scientific issues. The prosecution has unlimited resources at their disposal and the chance of a favorable outcome is slim – unless you work with an experienced DUI lawyer. There are many potential defenses for a DUI allegation and an attorney will review your case to determine which one fits your situation.

Some of the common defenses include lack of probable cause by the arresting officer, the Miranda was not read at the appropriate time, a blood or breath test was given during the absorptive phase or the consequences were not explained for refusing a chemical test. There are a lot more possible defenses that arise in DUI cases that should be discussed with a Virginia DUI attorney.

There are many components of the DUI arrest, including the traffic stop, arrest, blood or breath test, and field sobriety test. An experienced DUI lawyer will review all the details of each step in the arrest to determine if the law enforcement officer made a mistake. One minor error during the arrest can result in the charges being dropped. For example, if the officer cannot prove that there was “reasonable suspicion” to stop you, the case will be dismissed.

Blood-alcohol concentration is generally one of the prosecution’s biggest pieces of evidence. However, there are a variety of problems associated with blood and breath testing. Breath test equipment uses a ratio when converting alcohol in the breath to alcohol in the blood. This ratio can vary from person to person and therefore does not always directly reflect the level of intoxication. Even radio frequency can skew the results and cause an inaccurate reading. A DUI attorney will review the evidence to determine its accuracy.

If you or a family member has been arrested for a DUI or DWI, don’t wait to contact Bob Keefer at (540) 433-6906. He will fight on your behalf!

Library for Virginia DWI & DUI:

  • CMI, the manufacturer of the Intoxilyzer evidentiary breath alcohol machines has been ordered to turn over the 8000's source code [PDF]   
    Description: Intoxilyzer 8000; Intoxilyzer 5000EN; DWI; DUI; DWI/DUI Lawyer; DWI/DUI Attorney; Virginia; DWI Virginia; DUI Virginia; source code; source code order; CMI; Kentucky CMI, NCDD;
  • CMI, the manufacturer of the Intoxilyzer 5000EN Evidentiary Breath Machine must turn it over in Minnesota [PDF]   
    Description: DWI/DUI; DWI; DUI; CMI; Intoxilyzer 5000EN; Intoxilyzer 5000; Harrisonburg Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Attorney; Harrisonburg Virginia (VA) reckless driving lawyer; source code
  • Alco Sensor IV with Memory Operator's Manual [PDF]   
    Description: DWI/DUI; Harrisonburg, Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Rockingham County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Shenandoah County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney: Woodstock Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Staunton Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Attorney/Lawyer; Augusta County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Waynesboro Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Intoximeter; EC/IR II; Page County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Luray Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Attorney/Lawyer;
  • Intoxilyzer 5000 Operator's Manual [PDF]   
    Description: DWI/DUI; Harrisonburg, Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Rockingham County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Shenandoah County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney: Woodstock Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Staunton Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Attorney/Lawyer; Augusta County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Waynesboro Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Intoximeter; EC/IR II; Page County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Luray Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Attorney/Lawyer; Intoxilyzer 5000
  • Carry over when using Alco Sensor IV in low ambient temperatures [PDF]   
    Description: DWI/DUI; Harrisonburg, Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Rockingham County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Shenandoah County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney: Woodstock Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Staunton Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Attorney/Lawyer; Augusta County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Waynesboro Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Intoximeter; EC/IR II; Page County Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Lawyer/Attorney; Luray Virginia (VA) DWI/DUI Attorney/Lawyer; Intoxilyzer 5000
  • Minnesota orders CMI to provide source code necessary for adequate defense in DUI/DWI cases   
    Description: CMI; Intoxilyzer 5000EN; DWI; DUI; DWI/DUI; evidentiary breath machine;
  • Virginia's Intoxilyzer 5000s: Dated, Unstable & Unreliable   
    Description: Virginia DUI/DWI; DUI; DWI; Harrisonburg Virginia VA DUI/DWI; Staunton Virginia VA DUI/DWI; Woodstock Virginia VA DUI/DWI; Rockingham County Virginia VA DUI/DWI; Augusta County Virginia VA DUI/DWI; Shenandoah County Virginia VA DUI/DWI; DUI Lawyer; DWI Lawyer;
  • How does the breath testing Gizmo work   
    Description: Website dealing with Florida Source Code litigation
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    Description: “Caffeine intoxication, a recognized clinical syndrome included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, is marked by nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, rapid heartbeats (tachycardia), psychomotor agitation (restlessness and pacing) and in rare cases, death”
  • Some highlighted changes in Virginia Criminal Law effective July 1, 2008 [PDF]   
    Description: Changes in Virginia Criminal Law effective July 1, 2008

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