Virginia Drunk in Public

A Virginia Drunk in Public Charge is Punished with a Fine

A Virginia Drunk in Public charge criminalizes being intoxicated in public.

What Does Intoxicated Mean?

In Virginia, a person is intoxicated when he has consumed enough intoxicants (alcohol or drugs) to observably affect his manner, disposition, speech, muscular movement, general appearance or behavior.

Click here for more information on the meaning of intoxicated in the Virginia Drunk in Public charge.

What Does Public Mean?

The term public in a Drunk in Public charge in Virginia includes places open and visible to the community or public.  As a result, a person can be convicted of a Virginia Drunk in Public charge even if he is intoxicated on his own property.

Click here for more information on the meaning of public in the Virginia Drunk in Public charge.

Penalty for Drunk in Public Charge in Virginia

A Virginia Drunk in Public charge is a misdemeanor and is punished with a fine and a prohibition on obtaining a concealed carry permit for 3 years.  The offender can also be taken to the local jail when he is charged with being drunk in public and held until the police believe he has sobered up.

The fine for a Drunk in Public charge in Virginia can be pre-paid without going to court.  However, paying the fine is an admission of guilt and will result in a conviction on the offender’s permanent criminal record.  Convictions in Virginia can never be expunged (or erased) from a person’s criminal record, regardless of how minor the offense seems.

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