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Stephen Patrick Pfeiffer

Stephen Patrick Pfeiffer

Your Go-To DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyer
  • DUI & DWI
  • Virginia
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Biography

I am Stephen P. Pfeiffer, widely recognized as the “Go-To-DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney.” I am a partner at Wolcott Rivers Gates, which stands as one of the oldest and largest law firms in Virginia Beach. My insights have been published in the “Inside the Minds” series by Aspatore Books, specifically in the volume titled "The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases," where I contributed as a coauthor.

I hold certifications as an instructor for Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and in Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement, which equip me to handle DUI cases with a high level of proficiency.

My professional standing is reflected by my AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available from this esteemed independent attorney rating entity. This rating is a testament to reaching the pinnacle of professional excellence. I am also a proud member of the National College of DUI Defense Attorneys.

My contributions and dedication to the field of law have been consistently acknowledged. I am recognized annually as one of Virginia's Legal Elite by Virginia Business Magazine and have been selected as a "Super Lawyer" by Virginia Super Lawyers. Coastal Virginia Magazine has named me a "Top Lawyer," further solidifying my reputation in the legal community.

In 2007, I was honored as the American Bar Association’s National Champion in Legal Negotiations. I also share my knowledge and experience with aspiring lawyers as an adjunct professor at Regent University School of Law.

Practice Area
DUI & DWI
Additional Practice Area
  • Manslaughter
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Virginia
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4th Circuit
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U.S. District Court, Eastern & Western Districts of Virginia
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Partner & Marketing Chair
Wolcott Rivers Gates
- Current
Adjunct Professor
Regent University School of Law
-
Law Clerk
Maricopa County District Attorney's Office
Education
Regent University School of Law
J.D. (2007) | Law
cum laude; Dispute Resolutions Academic Board; Entertainment and Sports Law Society Board; Vice-President of University Student Body; 2007 ABA National Legal Negotiations Champion
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Carroll College
B.A. (2004) | History & Political Science
summa cum laude; Student Senator; Varsity Football, Varsity Football Defensive Captain, All Conference Linebacker; History Honors Society; Political Science Honors Society
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Awards
AV Preeminent Peer Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
10.0 Superb Rating
Avvo
Client Champion - PLATINUM
Martindale-Hubbell
Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Hampton
Expertise.com
Rising Star
Super Lawyers
2012-2022
Legal Elite
Virginia Business Magazine
2011-2016, 2019
Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers
American Society of Legal Advocates
2014, 2015
Top 100 DUI Attorneys
National Advocacy for DUI Defense
Top 40 Under 40
American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys
Top Lawyer
Coastal Virginia Magazine
Top 40 Under 40
Inside Business
Top 10 Under 40
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Professional Associations
Norfolk Bar Association
Member
Current
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Portsmouth Bar Association
Member
Current
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American Bar Association
Member
Current
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Virginia Law Foundation
Fellow
Current
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American Association of Premmier DUI Attorneys
Founding Member
- Current
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Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
- Current
Activities: Board Member 2013-2015
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National College for DUI Defense
Member
- Current
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Central Business District Association (CBDA/CBDX)
Co-Founder
- Current
Activities: Board Member 2010-present; past President & Philanthropy Chair
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James Kent American Inn of Court
Member
- Current
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Virginia Beach Bar Association
Member
- Current
Activities: Former Young Lawyers Chair; Current Circuit Court Liaison Chair
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Virginia State Bar
Member
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
How to Find the Right Attorney for a DWI / DUI Charge
Avvo Legal Guide
Do I Have the Right to Consult with an Attorney Before Giving a Breath Sample?
Avvo Legal Guide
Virginia Beach DUI or DWI
Avvo Legal Guide
Virginia DUI Breath Tests and the 20 Minute Observation
Avvo Legal Guide
3 Little Known Facts About Field Sobriety Tests
Avvo Legal Guide
One Simple Way to Help Your Defense of a DUI/DWI Charge in Virginia
Avvo Legal Guide
The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases “A Practitioner’s Everyday Insight Into DWI/DUI Defense in Virginia”
Inside the Minds Series, Aspatore Books
The questions I would ask if I needed to hire a lawyer for a DUI in Virginia Beach
Avvo Legal Guide
3 Steps for Dealing with Overweight Citations In Virginia.
Avvo Legal Guide
Lights, Cameras, Action: How to Deal with Disruptive Videoing
Avvo Legal Guide
Construction Fraud: Not Just a Civil Matter
Docket Call (VSB YLC Newsletter)
Speaking Engagements
DUI Defense, DUI Bootcamp, Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association
Landlord's Rights and Options When the Deal Goes Bad, Landlord Tenant Law, Surviving in a Difficult Economy
Legal Foundations, SEVCAI's Board Member Boot CAMP
Ethical Consideration in Landlord/Tenant Law, Landlord Tenant Law
Navigating the Service Members Relief Act, Debt Collections
Certifications
Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) Certificate
Recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
DWI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Certificate
Recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Websites & Blogs
Website
Your Go-To DUI Lawyer
Website
Stephen P. Pfeiffer's Website Profile
Blog
Stephen P. Pfeiffer Blog
Legal Answers
47 Questions Answered
Q. I have a DWI and Failure to Appear charge from 2018 in Virginia. What are my options to resolve this without jail time?
A: You’ll need to come back to Virginia to turn yourself in to start the process. A local DUI attorney will be able to do a full evaluation of your case, but nobody can tell you whether or not you’ll get jail time. You’re definitely looking at active jail time for a DUI and a failure to appear that every case is unique.
Q. Will I need an ignition interlock after DUI restriction ends?
A: You should simply have to take a written test and pay the reinstatement fee to get your license back. However, I have seen the DMV state you have to get an interlock when the box was checked even when you never had on installed. This normally requires us to go back to the original trial court to amend the order or having to contact the ASAP Commission and DMV in Richmond.
Q. How to fight false allegation of assault and DUI in Hanover, VA?
A: I know this is gonna sound cliché, but the best way to fight the cases is to hire an experienced DUI and criminal defense attorney in Hanover.
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Contact & Map
Stephen Pfeiffer Virginia Beach DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney
200 Bendix Road, Suite 300
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
US
Telephone: (757) 554-0258
Cell: (757) 554-0258
Fax: (757) 497-7267
Monday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM (Today)
Thursday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Sunday: Closed