If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with DUI recently, you’re probably very concerned. California has some of the toughest DUI laws in the entire country, with consequences often being driver’s license revocation, fines, jail time, and mandatory class attendance.
But how about if the individual who’s been arrested for DUI is a minor? Is the law more lenient if the charge is against someone who’s underage?
Legal considerations
There are many important considerations to keep in mind when thinking about a DUI case involving a driver who is a minor. According to California law, a DUI charge is even more serious if the driver is a minor than if they were an adult. If a minor is convicted of DUI, they may lose their license, maybe even their car, and they’ll have to report it on college and job applications, just like an adult would.
California’s Zero Tolerance Law
Not just that – California has a Zero Tolerance Law that indicates that even if you have a blood alcohol of .01%—that’s one eighth of the legal limit for adults—you could be arrested and charged with DUI if you’re under 21. Upon conviction, your license will be suspended for an entire year, even if it’s your first DUI offense. On the other hand, an adult 1st DUI conviction would just result in a 4-month license suspension, so California law is much harsher when it comes to underage DUIs.
Just transporting alcohol can cause trouble
Even if you just have alcohol in your car, it doesn’t matter if you didn’t even drink any – your car could be taken away by the police for 30 days. If you are caught with alcohol in your car and one of your parents wasn’t in the car with you, your car will be impounded.
No risk of jail time
But there is a small silver lining to being charged with a DUI as a minor – it won’t necessarily result in a permanent criminal record. Minor DUIs are considered infractions, not misdemeanors or felonies, so you won’t have to face any jail time, even if you are convicted.
Prevent a conviction now
But still, there are some intense, long-lasting consequences of being convicted of DUI as a minor, so you want to avoid it as much as possible. The best way to avoid a conviction is to get Southern California’s top DUI attorney on your side. Come speak with Attorney Dan Chambers in-person. He’s a Southern California criminal defense lawyer who has 6 local offices (Irvine, Beverly Hills, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego). Location information is available here. To schedule an appointment with Attorney Chambers today, just call 714-760-4088, email dchambers@clfca.com, or use the chat box below.
When you meet with Attorney Chambers about your case, he’ll read through all pertinent information, ask questions about what happened, and give you specific legal advice. He’ll start planning your ideal defense strategy immediately. In a straight-forward, honest way, he’ll explain what the most likely results of your case are.
Contact the Chambers Law Firm today to avoid conviction in your underage DUI case.
