DUI Zero Tolerance

Drinking and driving is a serious criminal offense in all 50 states. If you are caught driving under the influence (DUI), you may face penalties such as community service, license suspension, and even jail time. In addition, drivers under the age of 21 may also face even harsher punishments if their state has any types of DUI zero tolerance laws. Designed to prevent underage drinking and driving, these laws allow officers to arrest minors for DUI if they are driving with even a small amount of alcohol in their system.

If an officer suspects you are driving under the influence, the first thing he or she may do is ask you to perform a breath test. To do this, you will have to blow into a small device, which will then measure the amount of blood alcohol content (BAC) in your system. Although the legal BAC limit is .08%, if you are under the legal drinking age of 21, you will be charged with DUI if your BAC is above 0.00%.

If you refuse to take a breath test, you may face additional charges for violating your state’s implied consent laws, which require drivers to comply with an officer’s request to perform a breath test.

If you are convicted of underage driving, you will most likely lose your driving privileges for 90 days or more, and may even face jail time. You should also expect to pay several hundreds of dollars in fees, and may even be order to complete an alcohol education program or perform community service. It is also important to note that many states will use previous zero tolerance convictions against you, if you are charged with an alcohol-related crime in the future—meaning you will be treated as a second offender and, in turn, face much harsher sentencing than someone convicted of a first DUI offense.

If you were recently charged with violating your state’s DUI zero tolerance laws, you should obtain legal representation immediately. The consequences of a DUI conviction are life-altering, regardless of your age. Fortunately, with the right legal representation, you may be able to reduce, or even eliminate, the charges against you. Contact an experienced DUI defense attorney in your area to learn more about zero tolerance laws, and how they affect your case.