Underage Drinking and DUI Charges

For some under the age of 21 it is a big deal to party and drink alcohol. Through peer pressure and wanting to be in what they consider the ‘in’ crowd they take the risks involved with a grain of salt. The ‘I’m young, nothing will happen to me’ attitude and disregard for rules and laws unfortunately can easily end in disaster when mixing alcohol with driving. Many young adults are not aware of over consuming alcohol and how it impairs their judgment and reaction time.

Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) is defined as an operator is driving a vehicle with an excessive about of alcohol or any kind of controlled substance that is present in his/her body. All states currently charge anyone with a DUI if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08% or higher. For those under the age of 21 that percentage is .02% or higher and may vary from state to state. Since the law is different from state to state there are still sentencing guidelines each still follow; fines range from $100-$2,500, car is impounded, drug/alcohol class are required, 30-60 days of community service, suspension of driver’s license from 90 days to 3 years, additional court costs and lawyer fees, jail time ranging from 2 days to a year and probation for a period of 3-5 years.

Also underage DUI charges not only for the driving impairment but also for the underage drinking which include; minor possession of alcohol, soliciting alcohol from an adult, distributing alcohol to other minors (if present in auto), Child Endangerment Law violations and possession of a false ID, if found

DUI statistics show that 28% of 15-20 year old drivers die in traffic accidents that involve drinking in which 24% were males and 12% were female. In a poll taken of high school students 28.5% admit to riding in a car with a driver that was intoxicated. Of the drivers that die, 74% were not wearing seatbelts.

Since DUI laws have become stricter there have been nearly 25,000 lives on the road, but drinking is still a problem for those under age. 41% of students tried alcohol by the 8^th grade in which 20% of 8^th graders admitted to being drunk at least once. 75% of seniors tried alcohol and 58% of them admitted to over indulging.

A fun night at a friend’s house sneaking their parent’s liquor cabinet can become a disastrous situation. Once charged with a DUI especially one that caused harm or death to a friend are left with the memory forever. If no one was injured the DUI conviction has repercussions for years to come; a criminal record, license suspension, jail time, probation and higher automobile insurance premiums for at least 5-7 years. A criminal record could hurt their chances of getting into college, a scholarship or acquiring certain licensing required for certain jobs such as insurance, financing or medical fields.

If you are under 21 you should avoid drinking, but if you do…don’t mix drinking and driving. Have a designated driver, take a taxi, use the public transportation system in your town, stay overnight at a friend’s house or call a family member. Dealing with a family members concern or risk of punishment is a much better alternative than having a criminal record. Think about it.