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    Virginia DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard

    Which Virginia court hears a first-offense DUI case, what happens at each stage, and the ZIP codes and counties each courthouse covers.

    How Virginia DUI courts are organised

    A DUI charge in Virginia is prosecuted in the General District Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.

    Virginia tries misdemeanor first-offense DUI in the General District Court, while felony DUI — a third or later offense, or DUI maiming — is tried in the Circuit Court after certification. A defendant convicted in General District Court has an absolute right to appeal for a trial de novo in Circuit Court, with further appeal to the Court of Appeals of Virginia.

    The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at vacourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.

    Virginia judiciary — court directory

    Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.

    VA driver-licensing agency

    The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.

    What happens at each stage in Virginia

    A DUI case in Virginia is heard in the General District Court, and a separate licence action runs alongside the criminal case.

    1. 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Va. Code § 18.2-266 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Virginia's implied-consent section, Va. Code § 18.2-268.2. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
    2. 2Licence action by the state agency — An immediate administrative suspension applies at arrest under the implied consent law for a refusal or a failed test, pending court disposition. That action runs on its own timetable, independent of the criminal case.
    3. 3Arraignment in the General District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the General District Court. Virginia tries misdemeanor first-offense DUI in the General District Court, while felony DUI — a third or later offense, or DUI maiming — is tried in the Circuit Court after certification.
    4. 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Court records statewide are managed through the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
    5. 5Diversion or treatment disposition — Deferred disposition under Va. Code § 18.2-251 covers certain drug offenses; a standard first-offense DUI under § 18.2-266 is not generally eligible.
    6. 6Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $250–$2,500, jail exposure up to 1 year, a licence suspension of 1 year, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a mandatory minimum fine, and interlock is required for a restricted licence.
    7. 7Appeal — An appeal from General District Court to Circuit Court is heard de novo, as an entirely new trial.
    8. 8Reinstatement — Reinstatement requires payment of the reinstatement fee under Va. Code § 46.2-411. Virginia requires a FR-44 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.

    Filing and case handling in Virginia

    • Court records statewide are managed through the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
    • An appeal from General District Court to Circuit Court is heard de novo, as an entirely new trial.
    • The General District Court handles arraignment and probable cause shortly after arrest or summons.
    • Deferred disposition under Va. Code § 18.2-251 covers certain drug offenses; a standard first-offense DUI under § 18.2-266 is not generally eligible.

    Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.

    Virginia ZIP codes covered

    These Virginia ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

    Browse all Virginia ZIP codes.

    Counties and cities using these Virginia resources

    Other Virginia official resources

    Virginia Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22Virginia DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

    Frequently asked questions

    Which court handles a first DUI charge in Virginia?
    First-offense DUI cases in Virginia are heard in the General District Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.