Published in 1971
With respect to those statutory factors bearing on the severity of the sentence (fine, jail sentence, and license revocation), it was concluded that the Virginia Code authorized sanctions that, if consistently imposed, would make the penalty for driving while intoxicated one of the more severe in the nation. On the other hand, the state appeared to be extremely facile with respect to those statutory factors affecting the rate of detection, apprehension, and conviction. Subsequent to the issuance of this report the state acted on one of its recommendations: the statutory authorization of quantitative breath analysis as admissible evidence. Other recommendations were (1) lessening the severity of the present penalties for DWI if it should be determined that the harshness of present sanctions was causing a reluctance in police to arrest and courts to convict for DWI, and (2) lowering the presumptive level in blood tests to 0.10%.
Last updated: February 9, 2024