DUI Charges for Minors

Due to rising concern over underage drinking and driving, efforts to eliminate this type of tragedy have increased nationally. This effort is made possible with the support and agreement of the public in recognizing that something must be done about this serious issue.

Zero Tolerance DUI Laws

A zero tolerance policy is operating which implies that it is against the law for anyone under the age of 21 to be behind the wheel after having consumed any amount of alcohol. In the majority of states, an underage driver may be issued a DUI for any percent B.A.C, it is completely against the law with no regard to the alcohol amount.

Penalties for Underage DUI

There are very serious punishments for underage drunk drivers. In some states, such as Arizona, it is possible for a minor convicted of a DUI to be sentenced to 6 months in prison. A jail sentence may not always be the case, but it is certain that the minor found guilty will be given a class one misdemeanor conviction that will be placed on his or her record and may cause problems in the future. The court holds the power to suspend the minor’s license for as long as two years. They may also issue fines and surcharges that can add up to thousands of dollars. Furthermore, the court may allot a certain amount of community service hours that must be served.

Accidents, Priors and Other Aggravating Circumstances

The severity of your DUI accident or the number of DUI charges will be seriously held against you. The court takes these cases very seriously and will not be lenient; they desire to change the drivers behavior and make a profound impact that will hopefully cause the driver to make a better decision in the future. The court rules harshly against minors and will not be nice because you are young. The correct lawyer representation is important to insure that you are not overly punished and the penalties are adequate.

Standard DUI and Minor DUI

Depending on the level of alcohol concentration in your blood (BAC), you may be facing regular DUI charges as well. If the alcohol concentration is above .08, the court is able to charge you for both Underage DUI and regular DUI. In this case, you will be facing standard DUI penalties and a series of harsh penalties for minor DUI.