Underage Drinking and Driving Charge
Underage alcohol charges come with serious consequences.
Fake IDs, trying to purchase alcohol and alcohol possession can all result in legal action.
When combined with driving, alcohol charges can be devastating to someone under the age of 21.
Even if the underage driver has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of.
01, it is legal for an officer to take him or her in.
With the proper testing, they can charge the underage person with a crime.
At this point, a DUI defense attorney may be hired in order to explain to the accused their rights and begin to build a defense.
It is important to have counsel immediately because many people under the age of 21 can incriminate themselves and reduce their chances of fighting a charge.
Each individual state has the right to determine its DUI punishments.
Some are more harsh than others, however they all will be based on fairly similar criteria.
The existence of a criminal record will drastically change the severity of the sentence for the worst.
The amount of alcohol in the system will affect the degree of the sentence.
Those extremely intoxicated will have a more difficult time defending themselves against the charge.
The following are commonly included in an underage DUI sentence.
A plea bargain may be reached between those involved, if pleading "guilty" to the crime.
However, a longer process may be required if an agreement is not reached.
In some states, such as Arizona, an underage person charged with a DUI is entitled to a jury trial.
Fake IDs, trying to purchase alcohol and alcohol possession can all result in legal action.
When combined with driving, alcohol charges can be devastating to someone under the age of 21.
Even if the underage driver has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of.
01, it is legal for an officer to take him or her in.
With the proper testing, they can charge the underage person with a crime.
At this point, a DUI defense attorney may be hired in order to explain to the accused their rights and begin to build a defense.
It is important to have counsel immediately because many people under the age of 21 can incriminate themselves and reduce their chances of fighting a charge.
Each individual state has the right to determine its DUI punishments.
Some are more harsh than others, however they all will be based on fairly similar criteria.
The existence of a criminal record will drastically change the severity of the sentence for the worst.
The amount of alcohol in the system will affect the degree of the sentence.
Those extremely intoxicated will have a more difficult time defending themselves against the charge.
The following are commonly included in an underage DUI sentence.
- Driver's license suspension
- Misdemeanor on record
- Jail time
- Fines, court costs
- Probation
- Education classes
- Community service
A plea bargain may be reached between those involved, if pleading "guilty" to the crime.
However, a longer process may be required if an agreement is not reached.
In some states, such as Arizona, an underage person charged with a DUI is entitled to a jury trial.
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