Facing a DUI in Virginia Beach? Don’t Leave Your Future to Chance.

Your arraignment is where formal charges are read, and you enter an initial plea. It is not the time to argue your case, but it is critical. How your attorney positions you at arraignment, including bail arguments and early motions, can shape the entire trajectory of what follows. Appearing without a DUI lawyer at this stage is a significant strategic disadvantage that is difficult to recover from.

Yes, in some cases. Virginia allows for wet reckless reductions, where a DUI charge is reduced to reckless driving involving alcohol under specific circumstances. This carries fewer mandatory penalties, no ignition interlock requirement on a first offense, and less stigma on background checks. Whether this outcome is achievable depends heavily on the evidence, the jurisdiction, and the skill of your defense team.

Virginia licensing boards for nurses, teachers, real estate agents, contractors, and other regulated professions require self-reporting of criminal convictions. A DUI conviction can trigger a disciplinary review, suspension, or revocation of your license, independent of the criminal sentence. For professionals in Virginia Beach, VA, this is often the highest-stakes consequence of all, and one we address as part of every client's defense strategy at Fellers Law.