If you are facing an underage DUI charge, it is essential that you reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney who will fight for your rights in court. Our firm understands the weight that these charges have. Continue reading to discover the consequences of an underage DUI in California.
What are the consequences of an underage DUI in California?
For a person who is of the drinking age, to be guilty of a DUI in California, your blood alcohol content must be at least 0.08%. However, for underage drivers, if you have any alcohol in your system at all, you will face charges under California’s Zero Tolerance law. The penalties you will face will worsen depending on your BAC. The following are the potential consequences per BAC:
- BAC of 0.01% or greater: Charges for an underage driver with a BAC of 0.01% or greater will result in the loss of your license for one year under the zero-tolerance policy. If found guilty, you will lose your license for one year. However, you will not be sentenced to jail and this charge does not count as a criminal DUI charge.
- BAC of 0.05% or greater: This is a criminal charge and will put a DUI on your record. You will also lose your license and be fined $100. You will be required to attend a three-month DUI course. However, you will not face jail time.
- BAC of 0.08% or greater. Underage drinkers will face thousands of dollars of fines and court fees, years of probation, suspension of their driver’s license, up to six months in jail or juvenile custody, and a three to nine-month DUI course.
- Impaired driving. Impaired driving can be charged without a high BAC if you were swerving or driving dangerously because of alcohol. This will still count as a DUI charge and will face the same penalties as those for a BAC of 0.08+.
Underage DUI Charge Defenses
One of the most common DUI charge defenses is for an attorney to attempt to throw out blood or breath test evidence. Another tactic your attorney may use is to question whether it was legal for police to pull you over in the first place. These approaches will attempt to have DUI charges dropped, even if you are underage. Your DUI lawyer may even make a case regarding your age and that it was a single mistake that does not require the derailing of the rest of your life.
To get started with the defense process, reach out to our experienced criminal defense attorney today to learn how we can assist you. We are prepared to fight for your rights in court. Give our firm a call today to discuss our services.
Contact our experienced California firm
Whether you’ve been injured in an accident due to negligence or you’ve been charged with a DUI, you cannot afford to proceed without strong legal representation at your side. Here at The Law Offices of Dale R. Gomes, we are dedicated to helping all those in need of an attorney who can efficiently fight for their rights. Contact our firm today so we can discuss your case.