Drinking and driving can result in the loss of your license for a year.
Although it is illegal, it is all too common for people under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. Whether you believe that certain teens — such as those old enough to vote or go to war — should be allowed to drink — or that the drinking age should remain at 21, the state of California has kept the legal drinking age at 21. Anyone under that age is strictly prohibited from consuming alcohol.
Of course, drivers of all ages are prohibited from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For drivers aged 21 or older, the legal limit is .08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC). For anyone under the age of 21, California has enacted a zero tolerance law. According to a DUI attorney Orange County, CA, that means that if you are caught with any amount of alcohol in your system while driving, you will face consequences — including a license suspension.
Many of the penalties for underage DUIs in California range in severity based on the driver’s level of intoxication. For example, an underage driver with a .08% BAC may be sentenced to a jail term of between 2 days to 6 months. An underage driver with a BAC of .01% to .05% will not face jail time. However, one thing remains consistent across all underage DUI offenses: they will result in a 1 year license suspension.
And unlike adults who are convicted of DUI offenses, underage DUI offenders are not eligible to obtain restricted licenses. A restricted license allows a person to drive to and from work or school. Drivers who were under the age of 21 at the time of their arrest are not eligible for restricted licenses. As a DUI attorney Orange County, CA explains, this is meant to deter teenagers and young adults from drinking and driving — by making this punishment much more severe.
For underage drivers who are caught drinking and driving, the only way to avoid a license suspended is to prevent it entirely. This can be accomplished with the assistance of a skilled DUI attorney Orange County, CA. Your lawyer can request a hearing with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days of your DUI arrest. At the hearing, your lawyer can argue that the state did not have cause to arrest you for driving under the influence — and get a preview of the state’s case against you. Your DUI attorney Orange County, CA can also aggressively defend you against the DUI charges in criminal court. This may involve working out a plea deal to a lesser charge, or having the charge dismissed altogether.
The Chambers Law Firm includes a team of professionals who are devoted to assisting clients who have been charged with DUIs, including minors. We are highly experienced at defending DUI cases, and will advocate for your best interests at each step of the process, from the DMV hearing to the resolution of the criminal case. Contact our firm today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation with a DUI attorney Orange County, CA.
