by admin | Jul 26, 2013 | Fairfax DUI / DWI
Of all the possible penalties for a DWI conviction in Virginia, perhaps the least considered is how it affects your insurance rates. This is understandable, because between the fines, the possible jail time, and the loss of driving privileges from anywhere from 30 days to a year, it’s usually a substantial amount of time before a person considers their car insurance needs. What You Need To Know After a drunk driving conviction (or any offense that includes the loss of license to operate motor vehicles), an individual has to submit a form called SR22 to the DMV in order to reapply for their license (in addition to any other state-required treatment or education.) The SR22 is a form that you get from your insurance company to prove that you have reinsured after your conviction. Specifically, it proves that you have motor vehicle liability insurance, and additionally that your insurer will notify the DMV if at any point your insurance lapses. Such a lapse will result in the immediate revocation of your license. How Much Will My Insurance Increase? In most cases, you can expect your insurance to roughly double, as you will be placed in the highest risk category. If you previously had preferred rates due to safe driving, your rates may even triple. Additionally, not all insurers will insure SR22 applicants, in which case you will need to seek insurance elsewhere. Shop around, as some companies specialize in SR22. Even if you do not own a car, if you want your driver’s license back, you will still need to seek insurance in order to get a non-owner’s SR22....
by admin | Jul 17, 2013 | Fairfax DUI / DWI, Traffic Charges
June 29, 2013 was not a good day for Jovan Chesmon Smith. Whatever intent he may have had when he left home, it surely did not include ruining a pleasant weekend by having a run in with the authorities and getting arrested for driving under the influence. According to Grazia Moyers, Virginia Beach Police Department, the incident took place at 7.15 pm when Smith was driving north on Independence Boulevard. As he turned left on Euclid Road, he accelerated and rammed into a vehicle in the next lane. In an effort to take control, Smith overcorrected his vehicle, causing him to cross over the median. Before he knew it, he had crashed into a police car. To make matters worse, the police car was not unoccupied. It was carrying, at that time, a police officer and his chaplain. Finally, Smith’s out of control car flipped on its side and came to rest in front of Best Buy, on the sidewalk. On the brighter side, nobody involved in the crash were injured in any way. 32-year old Smith was arrested on the spot and faces several charges, the first of which is driving under the influence. At the time of the incident, his blood alcohol concentration was higher than 0.20. This is significantly above the legal limit to drive in Virginia, which is 0.08. In fact, according to the police department, this is Smith’s second DUI charge within 5-10 years. This makes him a repeat offender, automatically inviting a higher penalty. The other charges that have been brought against Smith include following too close, unauthorized use of inspection sticker, no...
by admin | Jul 17, 2013 | Drug Charges
The Executive Office of the President of the United States has declared that “Prescription drug abuse is the Nation’s fastest fastest‐growing drug problem.” Echoing similar sentiment is the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health – “Prescription drugs are now the second most abused category of drugs in the United States following marijuana.” Disturbing as these statistics might be, there is a darker side to this trend that threatens to hit the society where it’s most vulnerable. The 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that more than 6.1 million people in the age group of 12 years and above were addicted to prescription drugs. Of this 54% claimed to obtain these drugs from their medicine cabinet at home or from relatives, usually without their knowledge. The prescription medicines most commonly abused included painkillers, depressants (like anti-anxiety drugs or sleeping pills) and stimulants. Mindful of the consequences of this trend, the Virginia Attorney General’s Office and Law enforcement officials have launched a sate wide campaign to nip teen prescription abuse in the bud. The main aim of this campaign is to urge residents of Virginia to lock up their prescription drugs before they fall into young hands. It is common knowledge that teenagers lack reasoning and logic, often falling prey to mindless fads under the pressure of their peer group. They are known to make irrational decisions that can jeopardise their safety. As a result, it’s extremely important for adults to take steps to keep temptation out of reach. A simple precaution such as storing medicines in a lock box and keeping them where they cannot...
by admin | Jul 17, 2013 | Drug Charges
Earlier this month, 39-year old David Hudson was arrested for Virginia drug crimes charges of delivering controlled substances. A native of Beckley, Hudson is no stranger to the drug world, having been convicted for selling cocaine in the early 90’s. Only recently had he served a decade long sentence in a federal prison and completed three years of supervised probation in April this year. On Monday, July 8, he was pulled over on Harper Road at around 5 o’clock in the evening. 60 Oxymorphone pills, estimated to have a street value of over $4,000, were found on him. He was arrested and charged with delivering Oxymorphone and Oxycodone – narcotic painkillers that are prescribed for moderate to severe pain. According to Detective Cpl. B.M. Atterson, Hudson’s arrest was the result of an intensive investigation launched by the Beckley Police Department that spanned a period of two months. However, there is no evidence to prove that Hudson was receiving these drugs from other dealers and bringing them into Beckley from Pennsylvania (PA). In fact, he has his own prescription for oxymorphone, procured from a Pennsylvanian doctor. Atterson mentioned that it was not uncommon for offenders to get legally prescribed narcotic drugs from other states (like PA) and peddle it in West Virginia. Also, since PA did not keep a roster of patients prescribed painkillers (unlike West Virginia that has the Board of Pharmacy), it was extremely difficult to keep track of where offenders are receiving medication. Atterson also points out that it is relatively easy to sell prescription drugs as compared to dealing in cocaine. The former can be obtained...
by admin | Jul 16, 2013 | Misdemeanor
Indecent exposure is one of the rarer sexual offenses but when alleged offenses occur they often make news headlines. In Fairfax County police say they have received “multiple reports” over the last few weeks of a man who has been exposing himself in the Landmark Plaza area, reported WTOP. The latest incident is said to have taken place at a bus stop near Little River Turnpike and Oasis Drive around 7 a.m. on July 9, 2013. The report said Mason Police District officers arrived on the scene following a report of a man groping himself as he stared at women waiting at the bus stop. “The same man was reportedly seen doing the same thing in the area on July 5 and, police believe, on several other occasions in recent weeks,” reported WTOP. On each alleged occasion the man was reported to be wearing pajama pants and a dark shirt. WHAT IS INDECENT EXPOSURE IN VIRGINIA? Exposing private parts in a public space or place where other people are present is considered to be indecent exposure in Virginia. While breastfeeding is excluded from the offense, sexual acts between two consenting adults and masturbation can be classified as indecent exposure. WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE? Intentionally exposing your private parts can count as a misdemeanor offense carrying up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Intentional exposure of private parts to a child under 15 carries more serious consequences. It’s considered a felony and can lead to up to 10 years in jail as well as a heavy fine. The severity of the sentence will depend...
