How many DUI / DWI and Drug Possession cases are filed in Virginia?

In 2025, 23,250 DUI / DWI cases and 29,363 Drug Possession cases were filed across Virginia courts. Visit VirginiaCourtFile.com for jurisdiction-specific data.

DUI / DWI vs Drug Possession in Virginia — Stats

Q: What is the difference between DUI / DWI and Drug Possession in Virginia?

Based on 52,613 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI has a 11.9% average dismissal rate while Drug Possession has a 41.1% average dismissal rate across Virginia courts.

Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. These are different charges with different legal elements — consult a licensed Virginia attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

According to 52,613 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI cases across 113 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 11.9% and conviction rate of 86.4%, while Drug Possession cases across 101 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 41.1% and conviction rate of 58.4%.

DUI / DWI

23,250

Total Cases

113

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 11.9%

Conviction Rate 86.4%

vs

Drug Possession

29,363

Total Cases

101

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 41.1%

Conviction Rate 58.4%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

DUI / DWI — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	2,106	15.7%	82.7%
Virginia Beach	1,606	5.5%	93.6%
Chesterfield County	1,281	10.5%	88.3%
Prince William County	1,254	23.7%	73.1%
Henrico County	934	9.8%	89.8%

Drug Possession — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Henrico County	1,911	52.1%	47.7%
Virginia Beach	1,513	48.3%	51.3%
Chesterfield County	1,490	47.9%	52.1%
Prince William County	1,453	41.6%	58.0%
Fairfax County	1,292	71.2%	28.5%

Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com

What the Data Shows

DUI / DWI and Drug Possession are distinct charges with different legal elements, but defendants sometimes face questions about how they compare. Based on 52,613 public court records from 2025:

Volume: Drug Possession is more commonly charged (29,363 cases) than DUI / DWI (23,250 cases)
Dismissals: Drug Possession has a higher average dismissal rate (41.1%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.9%)
Variation: Both charges show significant variation in outcomes across Virginia jurisdictions — the court where a case is heard matters

These statistics reflect aggregate patterns across Virginia courts and do not predict individual case outcomes. The legal elements, potential consequences, and defense considerations differ between these charges. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

Common Questions

DUI / DWI and Drug Possession are separate charges with different legal definitions and elements. Our data shows they have different outcome patterns: DUI / DWI has a 11.9% average dismissal rate while Drug Possession has a 41.1% average dismissal rate. For information about the legal distinctions, consult a licensed Virginia attorney or the Code of Virginia.

Drug Possession has a higher average dismissal rate (41.1%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.9%), based on 2025 Virginia court records. However, dismissal rates vary significantly by jurisdiction. Visit the individual charge pages for court-specific data.

In 2025, 23,250 DUI / DWI cases were filed across 113 jurisdictions, and 29,363 Drug Possession cases were filed across 101 jurisdictions. View the full data on our DUI / DWI and Drug Possession pages.