Summer has officially started and many Virginia families may be making plans for the Fourth of July holiday. While some will travel to faraway destinations to visit family and friends, others may stay close to home to enjoy the festivities. Wherever they go and however they travel, though, they should be aware that law enforcement officials may be watching.

Drunk driving arrests are not uncommon during the summer months of the year as individuals get together with their loved ones for cookouts and parties, and those events often involve alcohol. In Virginia, law enforcement officials can charge drivers with driving under the influence, also known as DUI, if their blood alcohol concentration is at or above .08 percent. However, this is not the only way that a driver may be charged with DUI in the Commonwealth.

If a driver does not have the threshold DUI blood alcohol concentration mentioned above but is affected by alcohol or drugs while they are driving, they may still be arrested for this serious charge. Different assessments may be used to determine intoxication of drivers and individuals who are charged with these crimes can discuss the circumstances of their arrests with their trusted criminal defense attorneys.

The summer and particularly the Fourth of July are wonderful times of year for individuals to find their loved ones and to celebrate the benefits and blessings that they enjoy. A DUI arrest would not only be disruptive to one’s summer plans, but also potentially devastating to their record and rights if they are convicted. Legal help is available to those who wish to fight their DUI charges in Virginia.