Do Arizona DUI laws cover underage drivers?

AZ DUI laws can and do cover underage drivers. In fact, the laws for a DUI for an under 21 driver in Arizona are some of the strictest in the country. These laws are referred to as "zero tolerance laws" and while all states have some type of zero tolerance, Arizona is one of the few states that will impose the same penalties on a teen as they do for an adult DUI. 

Under Arizona zero tolerance laws, having any alcohol in your system at all when you are under 21 can subject you to DUI penalties. This means if your BAC is .01 or higher, you can be charged with a DUI as a teen. There may be limited exceptions, such as if you were taking a medicine that had alcohol in it, but otherwise, you are going to be charged even if you aren't actually impaired in any way. 

When you are charged for an under 21 DUI, even if your BAC was well below the legal limit, the consequences you face are going to be just like those that would impact an adult who is charged with a DUI. This includes a 2 year license suspension, misdemeanor charges that stay on your criminal record for a year, fines, probation, drug and alcohol counseling, and a series of other potential penalties. Subsequent offenses will also result in more serious consequences. 

If you are an underage teen who has been found to be driving under the influence in Arizona, or if your child faces such charges, you need to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to deal with the serious nature of the charges.