If you are caught drunk driving and are under the age of 21, there is a different set of laws that will apply to you as opposed to drunk drivers over the age of 21. This is in part because you have broken two laws in combination — drunk driving and underage drinking.
This blog will serve as a brief introduction to the law when it comes to driving under the influence (DUI) under the age of 21.
What does a zero tolerance law mean?
For those over the age of 21, it is permissible for a person to drive with some alcohol in his or her system as long as his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below a certain amount (usually .08 percent). However, for drivers under the age of 21, it is illegal to purchase, possess or consume any alcohol whatsoever. Therefore, it is a criminal offense for a driver under the age of 21 to have even a small amount of alcohol in his or her system.
Why is there such a strict zero tolerance law?
The law is so strict primarily for the safety of drivers and pedestrians. Statistics show that almost one-third of deaths of those aged 15 to 20 are due to car crashes. Half of these deaths are alcohol related. The law tries to put every precaution into place in order to prevent other DUI-related deaths from happening.
Have you been charged with an underage DUI??
If you have been charged with an underage DUI, it is important to seek trusted legal guidance so that you can have your case individually assessed.
Source: Find law, “Underage DUI: Zero Tolerance laws,” accessed July 27, 2017