There are many surprising statistics about underage DUI. It’s important to be aware of the facts to prevent underage DUI arrests. Many people have no idea that they can be charged with underage DUI if they drive and have any amount of alcohol or drugs in their body. While the adult BAC (blood alcohol limit) is .08%, anyone who’s under 21 can be arrested and charged with underage DUI if they have a BAC of .01% or above.
Underage drinking and underage DUI
Did you know that if you’re arrested for underage DUI, you’ll also be charged with underage drinking? If you’re under 21, it’s illegal to drink any alcohol or take any drugs. So you could be facing harsh penalties for both underage drinking and underage DUI.
Teen drinking continues to be rather common among high schoolers – often with disastrous consequences. According to MADD.org:
- Teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people each year. That’s more than all illegal drugs combined.
- Kids who start drinking young are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash.
- High school students who use alcohol or other substances are five times more likely to drop out of school.
- Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and about a quarter of those crashes involve an underage drinking driver.
- Over 40% of all 10th grades drink alcohol.
- About one in seven teens binge drinks, yet only 1 in 100 parents believe his or her teen binge drinks.
Underage DUI penalties
If you’re under 21 and drink and drive, you can expect some intense penalties if you are convicted. You’ll have to pay fines, attend DUI classes and/or counseling, plus your driver’s license will be suspended for at least a year. Plus you’ll have to report your DUI conviction on college and job applications, just like an adult would. But the DUI probably won’t be part of your criminal record – most underage DUI charges are infractions, not misdemeanors or felonies, so there’s no risk of jail time, either.
Got questions? Need help?
If you have any questions or need help with your underage DUI case, there’s only one place you should call – Chambers Law Firm. Attorney Dan Chambers has been defending people just like you from underage DUI charges for over 33 years. If it’s possible to prevent a conviction in your underage DUI case, he’ll do it. You can also trust him to be straight up with you – never exaggerating or giving you false hope about your case. Get personalized legal advice and solid representation by scheduling a free initial case evaluation with Attorney Chambers by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or using the chat box below.
