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

In 2023-2024, 60,761 DUI / DWI cases and 73,463 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 134,224 public court records from 2023-2024, DUI / DWI has a 11.7% average dismissal rate while Drug Possession has a 48.1% 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 134,224 public court records from 2023–2024, DUI / DWI cases across 123 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 11.7% and conviction rate of 86.8%, while Drug Possession cases across 119 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 48.1% and conviction rate of 51.4%.

DUI / DWI

60,761

Total Cases

123

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 11.7%

Conviction Rate 86.8%

vs

Drug Possession

73,463

Total Cases

119

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 48.1%

Conviction Rate 51.4%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

DUI / DWI — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	4,578	16.1%	82.3%
Virginia Beach	4,457	4.6%	94.8%
Prince William County	3,712	24.0%	74.1%
Chesterfield County	3,468	10.4%	88.7%
Henrico County	2,365	9.8%	88.6%

Drug Possession — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Henrico County	4,802	43.5%	56.2%
Fairfax County	4,400	66.3%	33.5%
Prince William County	4,274	51.6%	48.3%
Chesterfield County	2,740	63.5%	36.1%
Stafford County	2,380	42.4%	57.2%

Source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024 — 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 134,224 public court records from 2023–2024:

Volume: Drug Possession is more commonly charged (73,463 cases) than DUI / DWI (60,761 cases)
Dismissals: Drug Possession has a higher average dismissal rate (48.1%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.7%)
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 11.7% average dismissal rate while Drug Possession has a 48.1% 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 (48.1%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.7%), based on 2023–2024 Virginia court records. However, dismissal rates vary significantly by jurisdiction. Visit the individual charge pages for court-specific data.

In 2023–2024, 60,761 DUI / DWI cases were filed across 123 jurisdictions, and 73,463 Drug Possession cases were filed across 119 jurisdictions. View the full data on our DUI / DWI and Drug Possession pages.