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<\/p>\nDUI Attorney . \u00a0Are the rules different for minors under 18 years old?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Just as teenagers are bound to drink, they\u2019re bound to drink and drive. \u00a0And they\u2019re also bound to get pulled over and charged with a DUI. We all know that driving drunk is illegal, but are the rules different for minors under 18 years old? What about the possible punishments?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what could happen if you get a DUI when you\u2019re under 18.<\/p>\n
Juvenile Justice<\/p>\n
Most states have zero-tolerance laws for underage DUIs, meaning if you\u2019re under 21 and test positive for any alcohol consumption at all while driving, it\u2019s very likely that you\u2019ll be charged with and convicted of drunk driving. And if you\u2019re under 18 and get arrested for a DUI, you will probably be tried as a juvenile.<\/p>\n
Some courts may have DUI diversion programs which allow DUI defendants to plea to a lesser charge, or get their charges dismissed if certain conditions are met. However, you could also be facing some combination of time in a juvenile detention center, hours of community service, and\/or criminal fines that can range into the tens of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n
DUI Discipline<\/p>\n
There are also some penalties that can follow you around for a while. Every state has statutes that automatically suspend your driver\u2019s license if you\u2019re guilty of DUI. These suspensions can be as short as a month or as long as a year, even for first-time offenders, and driving on a suspended license only makes a bad situation worse.<\/p>\n
If and when you get your license back, you could be required to install an ignition interlock device in order to drive your car. While these devices have normally been reserved for serious or repeat offenders, courts have been known to assign them in juvenile DUI situations.<\/p>\n
Oh yeah, and this may all end up on your criminal record, unless you are able to expunge it. You normally only get one shot at expunging your record, and if you\u2019re using that one shot on a DUI before you\u2019re even 18, you could be out of luck later.<\/p>\n
DUIs are serious offenses with serious consequences. If you\u2019ve been charged with DUI, especially as a juvenile, you should consult with an experienced DUI attorney today. -findlaw<\/p>\n
Contact a name you can trust, contact In Law We Trust, John DeGirolamo, Esq.<\/p>\n
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