How many Obstruction and Public Intoxication cases are filed in Virginia?

In 2025, 8,854 Obstruction cases and 17,392 Public Intoxication cases were filed across Virginia courts. Visit VirginiaCourtFile.com for jurisdiction-specific data.

Obstruction vs Public Intoxication in Virginia — Stats

Q: What is the difference between Obstruction and Public Intoxication in Virginia?

Based on 26,246 public court records from 2025, Obstruction has a 56.8% average dismissal rate while Public Intoxication has a 34.6% 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 26,246 public court records from 2025, Obstruction cases across 82 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 56.8% and conviction rate of 39.7%, while Public Intoxication cases across 95 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 34.6% and conviction rate of 63.5%.

Obstruction

8,854

Total Cases

82

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 56.8%

Conviction Rate 39.7%

vs

Public Intoxication

17,392

Total Cases

95

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 34.6%

Conviction Rate 63.5%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

Obstruction — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	673	79.3%	19.4%
Prince William County	659	66.2%	32.4%
Virginia Beach	566	39.6%	57.7%
Newport News	390	70.3%	22.7%
Norfolk	346	55.3%	38.4%

Public Intoxication — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	1,785	39.9%	58.7%
Prince William County	1,290	32.0%	66.8%
Arlington County	936	48.3%	50.3%
Loudoun County	605	46.6%	52.5%
Rockingham County	567	48.4%	51.2%

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

What the Data Shows

Obstruction and Public Intoxication are distinct charges with different legal elements, but defendants sometimes face questions about how they compare. Based on 26,246 public court records from 2025:

Volume: Public Intoxication is more commonly charged (17,392 cases) than Obstruction (8,854 cases)
Dismissals: Obstruction has a higher average dismissal rate (56.8%) compared to Public Intoxication (34.6%)
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

Obstruction and Public Intoxication are separate charges with different legal definitions and elements. Our data shows they have different outcome patterns: Obstruction has a 56.8% average dismissal rate while Public Intoxication has a 34.6% average dismissal rate. For information about the legal distinctions, consult a licensed Virginia attorney or the Code of Virginia.

Obstruction has a higher average dismissal rate (56.8%) compared to Public Intoxication (34.6%), based on 2025 Virginia court records. However, dismissal rates vary significantly by jurisdiction. Visit the individual charge pages for court-specific data.

In 2025, 8,854 Obstruction cases were filed across 82 jurisdictions, and 17,392 Public Intoxication cases were filed across 95 jurisdictions. View the full data on our Obstruction and Public Intoxication pages.