DWI / DUI

Discovery rules tell prosecutors what information (and when) they must provide defendants -- through their lawyers -- prior to trial. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that the Virginia discovery rules remain too narrow.  In Virginia district court, the defense is only entitled to...

Sea changes are happening that benefit criminal defendants with the new Virginia chief prosecutors in Fairfax County, Arlington and Loudoun As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I see numerous personnel changes at these Virginia commonwealth attorneys' offices; more flexibility with numerous case negotiations; and more opportunity...

Collisions can result from drunk driving. As a Virginia DUI lawyer, I know that many trial judges in my home county of Fairfax and beyond in the commonwealth will sentence DWI more harshly when believing that the convicted DUI is causally connected to any collision...

Horizontal gaze nystagmus ("HGN") is one of the three so-called DUI standardized field sobriety tests ("SFSTs") approved by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ("NHTSA") of the United States Transportation Department. The HGN test is of no more use to DUI investigations than to confirm...

Field sobriety tests ("FSTs") are routinely requested by police investigating DWI suspects. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that even the most sober person can perform poorly on such FSTs as standing on one leg while holding the other at least six inches off...

Consciousness of guilt of DWI from a blood alcohol test refusal can be considered in some non-Virginia jurisdictions. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that such test refusal is generally inadmissible at a Virginia DUI trial for any reason other than introducing a finding...

Court dates for DWI and criminal cases are not exercises in rarefied, genteel lawyering, but are non-physical combat for obtaining the best possible results for defendants whose liberty and reputation are on the line. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know the importance for...

Courthouse ways must be reckoned with in pursuing the best possible outcome, says Fairfax DUI lawyer Courthouse ways stem from centuries-old developments in legal practice. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I know that court procedures may at first blush seem alien, but every battlefield has...

Two DUI convictions are a headache for anyone, and definitely should be avoided by those who are not United States citizens. As a Northern Virginia DUI lawyer who has repeatedly defended non-United States citizens, I know that immigration risks always need to be considered in...

Walking on the judge's path in working to persuade the bench can be very effective in advocating for a criminal defendant or any other litigant. As a Fairfax DUI lawyer, I have benefitted greatly from this approach. I have blogged many times about dealing with...