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

In 2023-2024, 24,837 Obstruction cases and 42,880 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 67,717 public court records from 2023-2024, Obstruction has a 55.9% average dismissal rate while Public Intoxication has a 36.4% 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 67,717 public court records from 2023–2024, Obstruction cases across 113 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 55.9% and conviction rate of 41.4%, while Public Intoxication cases across 110 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 36.4% and conviction rate of 61.9%.

Obstruction

24,837

Total Cases

113

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 55.9%

Conviction Rate 41.4%

vs

Public Intoxication

42,880

Total Cases

110

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 36.4%

Conviction Rate 61.9%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

Obstruction — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	2,881	71.3%	27.9%
Prince William County	1,638	70.5%	28.3%
Virginia Beach	1,366	43.6%	52.9%
Chesterfield County	882	63.2%	34.4%
Newport News	822	67.5%	26.1%

Public Intoxication — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	5,442	36.6%	62.3%
Prince William County	3,198	41.7%	56.9%
Arlington County	1,876	49.8%	49.0%
Loudoun County	1,514	38.2%	59.9%
Rockingham County	1,392	47.4%	51.6%

Source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024 — 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 67,717 public court records from 2023–2024:

Volume: Public Intoxication is more commonly charged (42,880 cases) than Obstruction (24,837 cases)
Dismissals: Obstruction has a higher average dismissal rate (55.9%) compared to Public Intoxication (36.4%)
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 55.9% average dismissal rate while Public Intoxication has a 36.4% 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 (55.9%) compared to Public Intoxication (36.4%), 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, 24,837 Obstruction cases were filed across 113 jurisdictions, and 42,880 Public Intoxication cases were filed across 110 jurisdictions. View the full data on our Obstruction and Public Intoxication pages.