Roanoke Virginia Criminal Defense Law Blog

DUI Defense: man arrested in Virginia

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in dui defense on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

A man in York County was arrested and charged after allegedly striking a VDOT subcontractor on the side of Interstate 64 on the afternoon of Sept. 19. The man has been charged with drinking and driving and will therefore require a DUI defense when he faces a Virginia court. He is currently in police custody at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail against no bond, though it is unclear whether he has retained criminal defense counsel at this time.

According to the report, witnesses at the scene reported the man was driving an SUV on I-64 when the accident occurred. Apparently, traffic was congested as a result of construction in certain lanes, so the accused individual drove around the cones, proceeding down a lane that was still under construction. The 30-year-old driver then reportedly struck a subcontractor before re-entering the interstate and fleeing the scene.

Virginia woman requires DUI defense after accident

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in dui defense on Thursday, September 17, 2020.

A woman from Manassas was arrested in Stafford County on suspicion of drunk driving, according to local sources. Virginia authorities in the area arrested the woman after she was observed traveling the wrong way on Warrenton Road on Sept. 8. She is currently being held against a $3,000 bond in Rappahannock Regional Jail, and it is unclear whether she has retained counsel to build a DUI defense at this time.

According to the report, it appears that, at around 3:33 a.m., the 38-year-old suspect was driving south in the northbound lanes of Warrenton Road when she apparently passed a police officer headed north. The vehicles did not collide, but the deputy gave chase to her vehicle. Her vehicle was observed pulling from the northbound into the southbound lanes before leaving the road entirely and entering a ditch.

DUI defense: Woman charged in Virginia

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in dui defense on Friday, September 11, 2020.

A woman who was reportedly driving the wrong way on Interstate 395 has been charged with drunk driving, according to a report from state police. Virginia authorities responded to the early-morning crash that shut down all northbound lanes for over an hour. The woman was arrested a short time later and will now require a DUI defense to fight the charges filed against her.

According to the limited report, it appears the woman was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-395 around 5 a.m. when the accident occurred. The woman apparently struck two different vehicles, sending debris all over the highway, before fleeing the scene. Two people were taken to local hospitals with injuries described as minor.

DUI defense: man allegedly strikes Virginia squad car

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in dui defense on Thursday, September 3, 2020.

A man is facing a DUI charge following an accident that damaged a state police vehicle, according to local sources. The 32-year-old Woodbridge, Virginia, resident was arrested on site and charged. He will be represented in criminal court by a defense attorney who will work to build a DUI defense against the charges filed against him.

According to the limited information provided in the report, it appears that a state trooper was completing an investigation into a different crash around 4 a.m. on Interstate 395. Apparently, while the officer was sitting in his vehicle, an SUV ran off the side of the interstate and crashed into the back of the officer's car. The force of the impact badly damaged the police vehicle, as photos in the report show.

The most recent findings on Breathalyzer test accuracy

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

If you have a driver's license, you will know that one of your many responsibilities is to avoid driving when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Law enforcement officials have the right to pull over your vehicle and ask you to perform a Breathalyzer test if they have reasonable cause to suspect that you are driving while intoxicated.

It's generally within your interests to perform the Breathalyzer test regardless of your situation. This is because, if you do not, this may be perceived as an admission of guilt. Those who feel they have no choice but to take the Breathalyzer test, even though they are confident that they are under the legal limit for alcohol intoxication, can find themselves in a difficult situation. This is because Breathalyzer tests are known to not be completely accurate.

Don't lose your license because of too many traffic violations

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in traffic violations on Friday, August 28, 2020.

Have you ever been pulled over for speeding? What about reckless or even impaired driving? Traffic violations are taken seriously in the state of Virginia and can have significant consequences. Don't lose your license because you have too many traffic violations on your record.

When pulled over and ticketed for failing to obey traffic laws, you may feel there is nothing you can do to fight the citation. You probably think you should just pay the fine and move on with your life. Sometimes, it may be worth taking that approach, but other times, it isn't. It may be possible to fight certain moving violations.

Virginia man accused of DWI after accident

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in dui defense on Sunday, August 16, 2020.

Most all drivers in Virginia would likely indicate that they understand the potential harm they can cause if they are involved in a car accident. As a result, many take action to ensure that they are especially careful. Despite this, even the safest drivers can cause or become involved in a traffic accident. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers have recently charged a driver with DWI following an accident involving a bicyclist.

The incident reportedly happened on a day in mid-August. Deputies say that they responded to the scene of an accident involving a bicycle and a juvenile. When they arrived at the scene, they claim that the driver involved had left.

Virginia driver accused of DUI after accident with state trooper

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in dui defense on Sunday, August 9, 2020.

Most drivers in Virginia are committed to safety, including observing all traffic laws and abstaining from drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. Unfortunately, even the safest, most vigilant drivers can sometimes make an error in judgment, such as allowing their vehicle to drift out of the lanes of traffic on an interstate. While this is a relatively minor error and easily correctable, there can be complications if there is a vehicle on the shoulder of the road. Despite the ease of which an incident such as this can occur, police accused a driver of DUI following a similar incident.

The accident that led to the 32-year-old man's arrest reportedly happened at approximately 4 a.m. on a day in late July. According to reports, a police officer was attempting to complete a crash investigation. Police say that a vehicle ran off the interstate and struck the state trooper's vehicle.

Don't submit to field sobriety tests

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC on Monday, August 3, 2020.

You're driving home after enjoying happy hour with the gang from work when you see those dreaded blue lights in your rearview mirror. You immediately regret that round of shooters or extra margarita that you let yourself get talked into.

Before you can formulate a plan of action, the cop is tapping his flashlight on your window. When you roll it down, he says he pulled you over on suspicion of drunk driving and wants you to perform some roadside field sobriety tests.

Roanoke teen pleads guilty to reckless driving

On behalf of Robert F. Rider, PLC posted in traffic violations on Monday, August 3, 2020.

The loss of a close friend or loved one is a devastating event. However, someone who is accused of being involved in causing the loss of someone he or she loved will likely have even more difficulty coping with such a tragedy. In fact, a teenager in Virginia was recently sentenced to 12 months in prison for reckless driving following a fatal accident.

The incident happened in May 2019. Prosecutors say that a 19-year-old male was driving his father's pickup truck with three passengers. The driver allegedly took a sharp turn at an intersection, causing the vehicle to overturn.