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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77586</law_id><section_number>18.2-268.10</section_number><catch_line>Evidence of violation of driving under the influence offenses</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Driving Motor Vehicle, etc., While Intoxicated</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In any <span class="dictionary">trial</span> for a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Driving motor vehicle, engine, etc., while intoxicated, etc" href="/18.2-266/">18.2-266</a>, <a class="law" title="Persons under age 21 driving after illegally consuming alcohol; penalty" href="/18.2-266.1/">18.2-266.1</a>, or subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Driving after forfeiture of license" href="/18.2-272/">18.2-272</a> or a similar <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, the admission of the blood or breath test results shall not limit the introduction of any other relevant <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> bearing upon any question at <span class="dictionary">issue</span> before the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall, regardless of the result of any blood or breath tests, consider other relevant <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the condition of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>. If the test results indicate the presence of any drug other than alcohol, the test results shall be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span>, except in a <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> under clause (v) of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Driving motor vehicle, engine, etc., while intoxicated, etc" href="/18.2-266/">18.2-266</a>, only if other competent <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> has been presented to relate the presence of the drug or drugs to the impairment of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>&#x2019;s ability to drive or operate any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, engine or train safely. <a id="paragraph-278354" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-268.10/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The failure of an <span class="dictionary">accused</span> to permit a blood or breath sample to be taken to determine the alcohol or drug content of his blood is not <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> and shall not be subject to comment by the Commonwealth at the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of the case, except in <span class="dictionary">rebuttal</span> or pursuant to subsection C; nor shall the <span class="dictionary">fact</span> that a blood or breath test had been offered the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> be <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> or the subject of comment by the Commonwealth, except in <span class="dictionary">rebuttal</span> or pursuant to subsection C. <a id="paragraph-278355" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-268.10/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> <span class="dictionary">Evidence</span> of a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> against the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Refusal of tests; penalties; procedures" href="/18.2-268.3/">18.2-268.3</a> for his unreasonable refusal to permit a blood or breath sample to be taken to determine the alcohol or drug content of his blood shall be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> into <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, upon the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the Commonwealth or the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, for the sole purpose of explaining the absence at <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of a chemical test of such sample. When admitted pursuant to this subsection such <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> shall not be considered <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>&#x2019;s guilt. <a id="paragraph-278356" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-268.10/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">jury</span> trying the case involving a violation of clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Driving motor vehicle, engine, etc., while intoxicated, etc" href="/18.2-266/">18.2-266</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Persons under age 21 driving after illegally consuming alcohol; penalty" href="/18.2-266.1/">18.2-266.1</a>, or a similar <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall determine the innocence or guilt of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> from all the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> concerning his condition at the time of the alleged <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. <a id="paragraph-278357" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-268.10/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1992, c. 830; 1994, cc. 359, 363; 2001, c. 654; 2004, c. 1013; 2005, cc. 616, 757, 840.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
