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

In 2025, 23,966 DUI / DWI cases and 26,203 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 50,169 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI has a 12.6% average dismissal rate while Drug Possession has a 53.5% 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 50,169 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI cases across 113 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 12.6% and conviction rate of 85.7%, while Drug Possession cases across 99 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 53.5% and conviction rate of 45.8%.

DUI / DWI

23,966

Total Cases

113

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 12.6%

Conviction Rate 85.7%

vs

Drug Possession

26,203

Total Cases

99

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 53.5%

Conviction Rate 45.8%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

DUI / DWI — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	2,107	15.7%	82.7%
Virginia Beach	1,607	5.5%	93.6%
Chesterfield County	1,349	12.3%	86.4%
Prince William County	1,283	24.3%	72.6%
Henrico County	1,001	13.0%	86.1%

Drug Possession — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Henrico County	1,909	52.1%	47.7%
Prince William County	1,367	42.0%	57.6%
Fairfax County	1,287	71.2%	28.5%
Chesterfield County	1,281	53.4%	46.6%
Newport News	1,043	61.9%	37.5%

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 50,169 public court records from 2025:

Volume: Drug Possession is more commonly charged (26,203 cases) than DUI / DWI (23,966 cases)
Dismissals: Drug Possession has a higher average dismissal rate (53.5%) compared to DUI / DWI (12.6%)
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 12.6% average dismissal rate while Drug Possession has a 53.5% 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 (53.5%) compared to DUI / DWI (12.6%), based on 2025 Virginia court records. However, dismissal rates vary significantly by jurisdiction. Visit the individual charge pages for court-specific data.

In 2025, 23,966 DUI / DWI cases were filed across 113 jurisdictions, and 26,203 Drug Possession cases were filed across 99 jurisdictions. View the full data on our DUI / DWI and Drug Possession pages.