One of the first things that hits you, after the alcohol in the blood has subsided, is that your driver's license may be suspended for one year if you are convicted under the strict DUI/DWI laws of Virginia.

However, you are free to petition the court for a restricted license, but the granting of such is at the discretion of the presiding Judge.

So what is a restricted driver's license?

This type of license allows you to move around in a limited manner, rather than completely stopping you from driving your car.

For instance, with a restricted license, you can commute to and from work, as well as drive around during working hours (if the trip is related to work and you have a note from your boss or some other confirmation of purpose (exactly what you want to ask your boss for, right?)).

With a restricted Virginia driver's license, you are also able to drive to/from the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program and other court ordered probation activities.

A restricted license will permit you to drive to and from school, medical care and to transport your children to/from the same kinds of things.

If you are convicted of DWI/DUI with blood alcohol concentration of .15 or greater, then your restricted license will be contingent upon an ignition interlock system being installed in your car.

This system automatically records the driver's BAC through a breath analyzer every time the car is started. The driver also has to blow into the breath analyzer every 5 to 20 minutes (more fun, right?)

As the Holidays approach, more and more police and law enforcement will be on the roads looking to bust drunk drivers in Prince William County, Manassas, Warrenton, Culpeper and Fauquier County, Virginia.

In fact, roadblocks are already being planned, as well as other tactics to find and apprehend folks drinking and driving. (Statistics show that DWI/DUI arrests are at their highest rates of the year in Virginia during the Holiday party season-no surprise, right?)

Remember-all of these penalties, costs and inconveniences (by the way, I haven't even mentioned the costs of a good Virginia DWI/DUI lawyer or the exorbitant insurance rates you will be paying) can be avoided by simply calling a cab or car service, using the designated driver system or crashing on your friend's couch for the night.