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Felony (Larceny /Malicious wounding)

• Brandishing Firearms, Air or Gas Operated Guns in Public Places or at Individuals: Code section 18.2-282 makes it illegal to brandish a firearm at a person or within a certain distance of a school. Firearm includes air or compressed gas firing weapons.
• Calculate the range of sentences for felony criminal convictions: Link to the Virginia Sentencing Commission
• Federal Drug Possession Law: Title 21, section 841, of the United States Code proscribes the possesion of certain controlled drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and others.
• Mandatory Suspension of Driver's License Upon Conviction of Drug Offenses: Code section 18.2-259.1 requires the court to suspend the driver's license for at least six months of a person convicted of a drug offense, though the court does have the discretion to issue a restricted license.
• Methamphetamine Illegal in Virginia: Code section 18.2-248.03 spefically addresses the illegal manufacture, sale, or posseesion with intent to sell or distribute, methamphetamines.
• National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys: One of the more prominent organization sites providing information and articles on criminal defense issues such as DUI, arrest, civil rights and appeals.
• Penalties for Marijuana Conviction in Virginia: Code section 18.2-248.1 specifies the penalties the court may impose for violations of the state marijuana laws.
• Penalties for Possession of Controlled Substances in Virginia: Code section 18.2-250 sets forth the penalties the court may impose for possesion of various controlled substances in Virginia that have not been obtained through a doctor's prescription or otherwise lawfully acquired.
• Penalties for Violation of the Virginia Drug Control Act: Code section 18.2-248 is the statute that governs violations of the Virginia Drug Control Act, and describes what constitutes a violation of the Act, and specifies the range of punishment the court may impose upon conviction.
• Penalties for Violation of the Virginia Drug Control Act: Code section 18.2-248 is the statute that governs violations of the Virginia Drug Control Act, and describes what constitutes a violation of the Act, and specifies the range of punishment the court may impose upon conviction.
• Possession of Marijuana Illegal in Virginia: Code section 18.2-250.1 makes possession of marijuana illegal in Virginia, and also specifies the penalty one faces if convicted.
• Possible Leniency for First Time Drug Law Violations in Virginia: Code section 18.2-251 provides for probation in certain cases involving convictions for drug offenses in Virginia.
• Prohibition Against Transporting into the Commonwealth Controlled Substances in Violation of the Virginia Drug Control Act: Code section 18.2-248.01 is a separate and distinct felony offense aimed at deterring the transportation of drugs into the Commonwealth of Virginia in violation of the Drug Control Act. It provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of three years imprisonment upon conviction.
• Punishment Upon Conviction of Misdemeanor Crimes in Virginia: Code section 18.2-11 sets forth each class of misdemeanor and describes the punishment one faces upon conviction. The summons or arrest warrant must contain a description of the charge and specify the class of misdemeanor charged.
• Punishments for Conviction of Various Felony Charges in Virginia: Code section 18.2-10 describes the punishments one may receive upon conviction of a particular felony offense. Each arrest warrant and indictment must describe the crime charged and specify the class of felony involved.
• Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Obtain listings of attorneys in your locality who specialize in drug cases, DUIs and other criminal charges from the largest state wide assoication of criminal defense lawyers in Virginia.
• Virginia's Concealed Weapons Statute: Code section 18.2-08 describes what is legal and illegal with regard to carrying concealed weapons.

DUI & Reckless Driving Defense

• Definitions of Terms Used in Virginia DUI Statute and Related Code Sections: Code section 18.2-268.1 provides definitions of terms used in sub-sections 2 - 12 of the statute. It is important to understand the terminology.
• Driving After Consuming Alcohol by Underage Persons in Virginia: Code section 18.2-266.1 prohibits person under 21 years old from operating a motor vehicle after having consumed alcohol. This statute is separate from the primary DUI law.
• Estimate Your BAC Before Going "On the Town" So You Can Drive Home Safely: Toronto criminal lawyer for impaired driving/drunk driving, Ron Jourard, suggests you use the calculator to determine your blood alcohol level at the time of the traffic stop.
  
  Mr. Jourard defends drinking driving charges in Toronto, Brampton, Newmarket, Oshawa, and beyond.
  
  The calculator is provided courtesy of Toronto criminal lawyer Ron Jourard and forensic toxicologist Gerry Kupferschmidt.
• Evidentiary Presumptions From Blood or Breath Test Results: Code section 18.2-269 sets forth the presumptions the fact finder may draw from blood or breath test results.
• Penalties for Driving While License is Suspended or Restricted After Conviction of DUI: Code section 18.2-272 provides the penalties for driving outside the terms or time frame of a resticted license, or driving after one's license has been revoked or suspended in connection with a DUI conviction or similar administrative suspension.
• Penalties for DUI in VIrginia: Code section 18.2-270 sets forth the penalties one may face upon conviction of DUI in Virginia.
• Penalties for Refusal to Take Breath or Blood Test in DUI Cases: Code section 18.2-263.3 describes the procedures and penalties used when a person suspected of DUI refuses to submit to a test of his breath or blood.
• Terms of Probation and Education and Treatment of Persons Convicted of DUI in Virginia: Code section 18.2-271.1 describes what conditions the court must consider to impose on those convicted of DUI.
• Virginia DMV Statistics on DUI Related Auto Accidents 1982-2007: Virginia's DMV published statistics purporting to show the number of alcohol-related auto accident crashes for each year from 1982 through 2007. This is a helpful source of information for drivers and DUI defense lawyers.
• Virginia Statute on Preliminary Breath Test: Code section 18.2-267 provides that a preliminary breath test may be performed on a person suspected of DUI. This is referencing the hand-held device that many State Troopers and police officers carry with them. Although the driver can request the officer to give him the test, in most cases, the officer or trooper will ask the driver to take it at the scene prior to placing the driver under formal arrest. The driver has the right to refuse to take it. If the driver does take the test, the results cannot be used at his DUI trial, but can be used to establish probable cause for arrest on a charge of DUI.
• Virginia Statute Specifying Evidence That May Be Used in DUI Trials: Code section 18.2-268.10 sets forth the types of evidence that may be used at a DUI trial, and how evidence may and may not be used.
• Virginia's "Open Container" Law: Code section 18.2-323.1 prohibits a person operating a motor vehicle on the state's highways from consuming alcoholic beverages while doing so. If an "open container" of alcoholic beverage is within the passenger compartment, the statute describes circumstances under which rebuttable presumptions that the driver violated the statute may arise.
• Virginia's DUI Statute: Code section 18.2-266 is Virginia's primary Driving Under the Influence (DUI) law. A separate statute applies to underage persons driving after having consumed alcohol.
• Virginia's Implied Consent Law in DUI Cases: Code section 18.2-268.2 is Virginia's implied consent law. Basically, it requires anyone operating a vehicle on the state's highways to take a breath or blood test if they are suspected of or arrested for DUI. This is not to be confused with the preliminary breath test mentioned in section 267, which is optional. This test is most frequently administered at the police station using the Intoxilyzer 5000 breath testing machine. A refusal to take this test, if found to be unreasonsonable, will upon conviction result in suspension of one's driver's license for one year -- without possibility of getting a restricted license during that time.

Virginia Divorce and Family Law Attorney

• Changing Spousal Support Orders in Virginia: Code section 20-109 permits a party to petition the court for a change in a previously entered spousal support order in Virginia, and explains the factors the court must consider
• Department of Social Services Child Support Obligation Calculator: The Virginia Department of Social Services provides a free child support calculator. This service provides a reliable estimate of what each parent may be required to pay in child support.
• Determining the Amount of Child or Spousal Support in Virginia Divorce Cases: Code section 20-108.1 empowers the court to determine how, and in what circumstances, it may award either spousal or child support, or both.
• Grounds for Divorce From Bed and Board in Virginia: Code section 20-95 explains the grounds for divorce a divorce from bed and board. Such a divorce will not allow either party to remarry.
• Grounds for Divorce in Virginia: Code section 20-91 lists the grounds for obtaining a divorce in Virginia.
• Help for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims in Chesterfield VIrginia: Help for victims of domestic assaults or sexual abuse is available in Chesterfield County.
• How Divorce Decree Terminates Receipt of Death Benefits: Code section 20-111.1 explains the circumstances under which death benefits may be retained by a former spouse after divorce.
• How Property in Divorces is Classified and Distributed: Code section 20-107.3 empowers the court in a divorce case to make determinations of the classification and distribution of property.
• How Virginia Courts May Punish a Spouse for Failure to Comply With Certain Orders: Code section 20-115 affords the court the option of imposing jail time upon a spouse who fails to abide by a previously entered order pertaining to support and maintenace of a spouse or child.
• Residency Requirements for Divorce in Virginia: Code section 20-97 prescribes the domicile or residency requirements for obtaining a divorce in Virginia.
• Virginia Courts May Alter Orders or Decrees Pertaining to Child Custody, Support, or Visitation: Code section 20-108 permits a parent to petition the court for amendment of a prior order or decree relating to child custody, support, or visitation.
• Virginia Statute on Child Custody and Support: Code section 20-107.2 empowers the court in a divorce case, or in a suit for separate maintenance, to make rulings relative to the custody and support of children of the marriage.
• Virginia Statute Setting Forth What Orders Relating to Spousal Support (Alimony) Court May Make in Divorce Suits: Code section 20-107.1 details when and how the court may provide for the support of a spouse in a divorce suit.
• Virginia Statute Setting Forth What Temporary Orders Court May Make in Divorce Suits: Code section 20-103 allows the court to make temporary orders while the divorce suit is pending.
• Virginia's Child Support Guidelines: Code section 20-108.2 contains the presumptive amount of child support parents must pay depending on their respective incomes and the number of children to whom they owe a duty of support.
• Virlginia Law on Effect of Cohabitation After Knowledge of Adultery: Code section 20-94 describes under what circumstances a party may defend, on basis of cohabitation, a suit for divorce founded on grounds of adultery or sodomy
• Written Agreements by Husband and WIfe May be Integrated into Divorce Decrees: Code section 20-109.1 permits the court to integrate into its decree of divorce, the terms of any written agreement the parties may have made relating to certain aspects of their parting, the division of property, and their obligations to one another.

Marijuana, Cocaine Drug and Alcohol Charges

• Definition of Drug Paraphernalia: Code section 18.2-265.1 defines articles that are illegal to possess because they can be used to deliver controlled substances into the body.
• Juveniles Driving After Illegally Consuming Alcohol: Virginia Code section 18.2-266.1 prohibits juveniles from driving after they have illegally consumed alcohol. The key word here is "illegally consumed," for there are circumstances wherein a person under 21 may legally consume alcohol.
• Loss of Driving Privileges for Alcohol, Firearm and Drug Offenses by Juveniles: Virginia Code section 16.1-278.9 describes how a youngster's driving privileges may be denied, suspended or curtailed if found guilty of certain alcohol, firearm or drug offenses, among others.
• Penalties for Sale of Drug Paraphernalia: Code section 18.2-265.3 specifies the penalties a court may impose upon conviction of the saler of banned items described in the drug paraphernalia statutes.
• Procedures for Juveniles Found Guilty of First Drug Offense: Code section 16.1-278.8:01 provides that whenever any juvenile who has not previously been found delinquent of any offense under Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 or under any statute of the United States or of any state relating to narcotic drugs, marijuana, or stimulant, depressant or hallucinogenic drugs, or has not previously had a proceeding against him for a violation of such an offense dismissed as provided in § 18.2-251, is found delinquent of any offense concerning the use, in any manner, of drugs, controlled substances, narcotics, marijuana, noxious chemical substances and like substances, the juvenile court or the circuit court shall require such juvenile to undergo a substance abuse screening and to submit to periodic substance abuse testing, to include alcohol testing.
• Punishment of Juveniles Found Delinquent of First Marijuana Possession Offense: Virginia Code section 16.1-278.8:01 describes what the court may do to a youngster found guilty of posession of marijuana or other drugs as a first offender.

Richmond Virginia Reckless Driving Attorney

• Listing of Approved On-line Defensive Driving Instruction
• NHTSA Minimum Drinking Age Survey 2008: In October 2008, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its study justifying its efforts --- through the Department of Transportation -- to compel the states to adopt a minimum drinking age of 21 years old. View the study and draw your own conclusions. If you do not agree with them, contact your elected officials.
• Pre-pay traffic tickets and fines
• Texting With Cellular Phones While Driving: On July 1, 2009, Virginia joins 11 other states by imposing a ban on texting while operating a motor vehicle. Code section 46.2-1078.1 appears here.
• Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage Found for Customer Test-Driving Dealer Car: View the full-text opinion of the Virginia Supreme Court decision in Seals v. Erie Ins. Exchange. The Supreme Court held that the Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) of the car dealer's garage policy afforded coverage to the customer injured while test-driving one of the dealer's cars to the extent that the other driver's coverage was not sufficient to pay the damages sustained.

Hanover County Code of Ordinances

• Hanover County Code: This link will take you to the Hanover County (Virginia) Code of Ordinances, which you may search for specific information.

Child Custody Links

• Child Custody and Visitation Orders: Code section 20-124.1 describes what the court may do in connectionwith issues involving child custody, support and visitation
• How Court Deterimines the Best Interests of the Child: Code section 20-124.1 sets forth the factors the court must consideer in determining the best interests of the child in child custody and visitation disputes.
• Parent's Right to Access Child's Medical and School Records: Code section 20-124.6 provides parents the right to inspect a child's medical and school records, except in cases where the court finds such access to not be in the child's best interests.
• Statute Definitions of Terms Used in Child Custody Laws: Code sction 20-124.1 defines the terminology used in the statutes relating to child custody laws.

General

• Fair Credit Reporting Act: This link provides the text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. It specifies what practices are allowed, what practices are prohibited, and what consumers may do in the event of a disputed credit report. Many times, identity theft can wreck your credit. Knowledge of this law is one way to negotiate on more level ground with a collections agency.
• Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: Complete text of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This federal law governs what debt collectors must do -- and cannot do -- when seeking to collect a debt.
• Find Virginia Circuit Courts: Use this link to obtain address, telephone number and other useful information about a specific Virginia circuit court.
• Find Virginia General District Courts: Use this link to get address, telephone number, and other useful information about specific general district courts.
• Forfeiture of Virginia Driver's License Upon Conviction of DUI: Code section 18.2-271 provides for the forfeiture of the driver's license of persons convicted of DUI.
• General District Court Case Information: Use this link to obtain the date, time and results of General District Court cases.
• Henrico County Code of Ordinances: This link will allow you to search the Code of Ordinances for Henrico County for speicifc information.
• United State Supreme Court Decisions: Obtain opinions rendered by the United States Supreme Court that have been made available to the public.
• Virginia Code at the General Assembly's Legislative Information System
• Virginia Government Departments and Agencies
• Virginia's Judicial System

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