Marijuana decriminalization in Virginia first went into effect on July 1, 2020, and marijuana laws continue to evolve, often resulting in limited punishments for offenses that were once quite serious. Some upcoming changes to Virginia laws will likely continue to make marijuana arrests less lik...
Learn more about larceny laws in Viriginia and how they may affect you.
DUI charges in Virginia are some of the toughest to overcome in court. Even a first-time DUI in Virginia is a criminal misdemeanor, and carries the potential for jail time, up to $2500 in fines, loss of driving privileges, being placed on probation, ignition interlock and a permanent negative e...
Find out about how to get out of a reckless driving ticket in Virginia from Prince William County reckless driving attorney John Kassabian.
If you've been keeping an eye on Fairfax County news, you've probably heard a lot about Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, who was elected to the position in 2019. During his time as prosecutor, the Commonwealth's Office in Fairfax County has taken on a more progressive appro...
As conversations around police brutality continue to circulate across the country, the police have been at the center recent news, and Virginia is no exception. In the last few months, some proposed changes to laws around police assault have been hotly debated. Senate Bill 5032, which called ...
Changes to Virginia drug laws are definitely a subject of interest in the Commonwealth in 2020. Not only has marijuana possession been decriminalized, but under Senate Bill 667, Virginia legislative code has been amended so that anyone who calls for emergency medical help for themselves or some...
New changes to Virginia protective order laws allow for longer restraining orders for violent acts.
If you ever use a firearm in a group situation, you'll definitely want to be educated about some changes to Virginia firearms laws. The changes have sparked debates across the state, so you may have already heard about them, but it's important to make sure you fully understand what is now requi...
While loosened restrictions on marijuana possession in Virginia have left many people breathing a sigh of relief, the changes have not eliminated certain issues associated with marijuana possession charges. A case in point is the fact that Virginia's first offender program is no longer availabl...
In 2018, when the threshold (aka, minimum requirement to be charged) for grand larceny in Virginia jumped from $200 to $500, it was the first increase in the threshold in nearly 40 years. But on July 1 of this year, we saw the threshold amount increase again, this time from $500 to $1000. While t...
For over 80 years, a controversial Virginia law allowed police officers to arrest and jail anyone they designated as a “habitual drunkard.” But as of July 1, this archaic law has been repealed, which will improve the situation of many people who have been living with this label for years. Despite...
Domestic assault charges are some of the most challenging to face in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For one, domestic assault is a serious criminal offense, so it carries heavy penalties and will leave a permanent mark on your criminal record. But what makes this situation even harder is the fac...
A well-known part of every DUI conviction is the suspension of your driver's license for up to a year. While it is possible to get a restricted license where you can travel to and from certain destinations after a first-offense DUI, people with multiple DUI convictions often struggle, as they a...
Being charged with a first offense DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) in the Commonwealth of Virginia carries a variety of harsh penalties, but recent changes to Virginia interlock law have made life a little easier for those facing a first-time DUID. Under the changes, those facing a f...
Drivers across the state are rejoicing about changes to Virginia laws that went into effect this July. The first is a change to the threshold for reckless driving speed, and the second changes the rules when one vehicle is passing another. Below, I'll tell you what you need to know about these ...
Learn about Virginia domestic violence laws and how a criminal lawyer can help.
Learn about changes to Virginia protective order laws effective July 1.
Learn about Virginia DUI law changes effective July 1, 2020.
Learn about new changes to Virginia marijuana possession laws effective July 1, 2020.
Learn about new changes to Virginia criminal laws effective July 1, 2020.
In the face of the Coronavirus outbreak, strict stay-at-home orders have caused family tensions for many people to run high. It is not surprising that Fairfax Police report that during April 2020 alone, they experienced a 26 percent increase in domestic-related calls compared to the previous Apri...
Now that stay-at-home orders have lifted, people across northern Virginia are excited to celebrate Independence Day, but don't forget that it's important to exercise caution if you plan to drink alcohol during the holiday. More than likely, we'll see a rash of DUI arrests during the Fourth of J...
As you likely remember, back in April of this year Governor Ralph Northam signed Virginia HB 972 decriminalizing simple marijuana possession in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Now the Virginia decriminalization date is nearly upon us: effective July 1, simple possession of marijuana will no longe...
If you've ever received a DUI in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you're probably familiar with the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (usually referred to as ASAP). ASAP, which is required if you have been convicted of a DUI, is a series of classes and treatment programs that help people with...
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