February 06, 2013 (Press-News.org) Virginia's legislature takes drunk driving very seriously, and for good reason. The state has recently enacted a law that makes anyone convicted of DUI in the state to install and maintain an ignition interlock device that prevents the car from being started until the driver takes - and passes - a breath alcohol test.
Sending a message
The laws of Virginia take underage drinking no less seriously. Teens who are caught behind the wheel with even a small amount (.02 percent blood alcohol level) of alcohol in their system will be facing a minimum of one year's license suspension, a mandatory fine of $500, a misdemeanor on their criminal record and 50 hours of community service.
These consequences are in addition to the standard penalties that would flow to any of-age adult convicted of DUI with a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater, which include:
- Installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock that must be in place before a provisional, restricted license will be issued
- License suspension for up to a year
- Possible fines ranging from $250 to $500
- Possible jail time or community service obligations
The penalties for teen drinking don't just affect teens who imbibe and climb behind the wheel, though. There are also strict laws prohibiting underage Virginians from buying or even being in possession of alcohol (except when the possession is directly related to their job or at the direction of a parent), punishable by a lengthy license suspension, a fine of $500 (or 50 hours of community service) and a misdemeanor charge on their criminal record.
Holding parents accountable, too
The legislature has not only provided steep consequences for teens who drink alcohol, but have also made their parents or guardians responsible for any injuries caused as a result of intoxication. This means that if you have a teenage child you drinks or takes drugs and then hurts someone or damages property by, for example, causing a car accident, falling down a set of stairs or getting in a fight, you could be civilly responsible for the associated costs.
Parents or other adults who either allow teens to drink in the home or purchase alcohol for underage drinkers - or neglected to provide proper supervision, thus creating an environment where teens are unconcerned about consequences that might flow from drinking - might also face criminal charges. Virginia law provides that providing alcohol to a minor be punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, up to a year in jail and a lengthy license suspension.
If your child (or other underage loved one) is facing alcohol-related charges - or you are facing charges related to their being in possession of alcohol - the consequences are severe, and could have lifelong effects. Having an experienced Virginia criminal defense attorney on your side can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case and can help protect your rights while mounting an aggressive defense.
Article provided by Weisberg & Weisberg, PLLC
Visit us at www.weisbergattorneys.com
Virginia laws crack down on teens who drink - and their parents
Virginia juveniles - and their parents - face steep penalties for underage possession and consumption of alcohol.
2013-02-06
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Injuries and deaths rising for oil and gas industry workers
2013-02-06
Recently a gas line exploded in the town of Sissonville, W.Va. A local gas company confirmed the source of the explosion came from one of its transmission lines. With this news, the small town of just over 4,000 residents learned that the jobs associated with the oil and gas industry sometimes come at a price.
The fire demolished four homes and damaged five others. A section of a freeway was also shut down, and power and phone lines were out for several hours. Although no one was killed, several people were treated for injuries related to smoke inhalation.
Federal ...
California juvenile crime rate drops to record low
2013-02-06
Figures compiled by the California Department of Justice's Criminal Justice Statistics Center (and recently released by the non-profit Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice) Corrections shows that the state's juvenile crime rate is now the lowest it has been since comprehensive recordkeeping started in 1954.
The drop in juvenile crime is particularly noteworthy in that it has continued to fall in spite of widespread economic distress and high rates of poverty, two things that have traditionally foreshadowed rises in violent crime, gang activity, drug crimes and theft.
The ...
Compensation for birth injuries caused by medical negligence
2013-02-06
Giving birth is inherently a difficult process, and there are many things that can go wrong. Sometimes, babies are born with life-altering conditions that came about through no fault of health care providers. But, when a doctor, nurse or another caregiver caused a birth injury, parents should consult an attorney in order to help secure compensation.
Yet, it can be extremely difficult for new parents to recognize when the negligence of hospital staff has led to a birth injury. For that reason, it can be helpful for new parents to learn about some of the most common birth ...
Military divorce: child custody and visitation
2013-02-06
When a person serves in the military, he or she may have special obligations that can complicate other life issues. For example, it may be difficult to address life problems while completing service responsibilities. Fortunately, as laws evolve, service persons are given more leeway and time, permitting them to focus on both military issues and other important life issues. One important issue is child custody and visitation, which can become a highly contested and messy topic subsequent to a military divorce.
Child custody
At one time, there was a strong presumption ...
Advanced robot at Sugar Land hospital may help reduce surgical errors
2013-02-06
In late December, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital became the first medical center in the region to receive a da Vinci Surgical System robot. The da Vinci robot represents the latest in advanced surgical technology; unlike previous surgical robots that required three to five small incisions, the da Vinci employs a single-site system that allows procedures to be completed with just one incision. Initially, the new da Vinci robot will be used by several specially trained Memorial Hermann physicians to perform surgeries in three areas: uro-gynecology, gynecology oncology ...
Illinois had one of the highest foreclosure rates in 2012
2013-02-06
Despite that fact that the nation as a whole experienced a 3 percent drop in foreclosures last year, Illinois saw its foreclosure activity spike a whopping 33 percent in 2012 when compared to 2011, according to a recent report by RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure tracking organization.
In fact, 2.58 percent of all Illinois homes received a foreclosure filing in 2012 - giving it the fifth highest rate in the entire United States. Also, there were 135,858 homes that were bank-owned or at some point in the foreclosure process at the end of the year.
In Cook County alone, ...
Drunk driving laws and alcohol breath tests in Tennessee
2013-02-06
Alcohol breath tests are one of the main ways in which drunk driving laws are enforced in Tennessee. While the measuring of one's blood alcohol content by way of an alcohol breath test is very much relied upon by law enforcement, these tests have their shortcomings. Those involved in drunk driving situations where an alcohol breath test is administered should be mindful of these shortcomings so as to avoid erroneous but incriminating results.
The role of alcohol breath tests in Tennessee drunk driving law
Tennessee drunk driving law links a person's blood alcohol ...
SR-22 certificates add to costs of DUI convictions in Mesa Arizona
2013-02-06
A mountain of problems surface for many people facing DUI charges. After an arrest, the potential repercussions start surfacing. However, many drivers in Mesa Arizona may not necessarily understand all of the penalties that go in tandem with a DUI, such as the SR-22 insurance requirement.
Understanding SR-22 certificates in Arizona
In the state of Arizona, all drivers who have had their drivers' license revoked or suspended must obtain (and provide proof to the Department of Motor Vehicles) that they have purchased certain automobile coverage for their vehicle before ...
Important facts about distracted driving laws in Colorado
2013-02-06
Distracted driving is a dangerous trend in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that, in 2010, more than 3,000 people were killed in a distracted-driving related car accident.
By definition, distracted driving is any activity that shifts a driver's attention away from the primary duty of driving. It includes, but is not limited to:
- Talking on a cell phone or to passengers
- Texting
- Eating
- Reading
- Watching a video
- Applying makeup, shaving, fixing hair or other grooming activities
Additionally, even common activities like ...
Toyota settles unintended acceleration wrongful death claim
2013-02-06
Many people know that there are certain risks associated with driving. Things such as severe weather and others on the road not exercising due caution behind the wheel can make driving dangerous. People do not often consider that their vehicles may pose the biggest threat to their safety on the road. When auto manufacturers make defective vehicles it often leads to auto accidents. On January 18, 2013, Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it had reached a settlement in the first of a number of lawsuits that alleged that defects in Toyota vehicles caused accidents.
Unintended ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Drones reveal extreme coral mortality after bleaching
New genetic finding uncovers hidden cause of arsenic resistance in acute promyelocytic leukemia
Native habitats hold the key to the much-loved smashed avocado’s future
Using lightning to make ammonia out of thin air
Machine learning potential-driven insights into pH-dependent CO₂ reduction
Physician associates provide safe care for diagnosed patients when directly supervised by a doctor
How game-play with robots can bring out their human side
Asthma: patient expectations influence the course of the disease
UNM physician tests drug that causes nerve tissue to emit light, enabling faster, safer surgery
New study identifies EMP1 as a key driver of pancreatic cancer progression and poor prognosis
XPR1 identified as a key regulator of ovarian cancer growth through autophagy and immune evasion
Flexible, eco-friendly electronic plastic for wearable tech, sensors
Can the Large Hadron Collider snap string theory?
Stuckeman professor’s new book explores ‘socially sustainable’ architecture
Synthetic DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy
New model to find treatments for an aggressive blood cancer
Special issue of Journal of Intensive Medicine analyzes non-invasive respiratory support
T cells take aim at Chikungunya virus
Gantangqing site in southwest China yields 300,000-year-old wooden tools
Forests can’t keep up: Adaptation will lag behind climate change
Sturgeon reintroduction initiative yields promising first-year survival rate
Study: Babies’ poor vision may help organize visual brain pathways
Research reveals Arctic region was permafrost-free when global temperatures were 4.5˚ C higher than today
Novel insights into chromophobe renal cell carcinoma biology and potential therapeutic strategies
A breakthrough in motor safety: AI-powered warning system enhances capability to uncover hidden winding faults
Research teases apart competing transcription organization models
Connect or reject: Extensive rewiring builds binocular vision in the brain
Benefits and risks: informal use of antibiotics to prevent sexually transmitted infections on the rise in key populations in the Netherlands
New molecular tool sheds light on how cancer cells repair telomeres
First large-scale stem cell bank enables worldwide studies on genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease
[Press-News.org] Virginia laws crack down on teens who drink - and their parentsVirginia juveniles - and their parents - face steep penalties for underage possession and consumption of alcohol.