If you (or your child) are caught drinking and driving when you are under 21 – the age at which you can legally consume alcohol – the penalties can be severe.
If you are under 21 and were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, or if you are the parent or guardian of an underage driver facing a DUI, call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg at (214) 696-9253 for a free case evaluation. An Arlington under 21 DUI lawyer can guide you through the legal aftermath of an underage DUI arrest and possible conviction and help limit the damage to your driving record.
Know What the Law Says About Underage Drinking and Driving in Arlington
Alcoholic Beverage Code Chapter 106 speaks directly to the costs and consequences of an underage DUI conviction. It states that an underage driver can have their license suspended and be arrested if any amount of alcohol is detected in their system.
That means a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of anything higher than zero can trigger the immediate suspension of their driver’s license for a minimum of 60 days. Additional consequences for underage DUI offenses include:
- A $500 fine
- Up to 40 hours of specific, court-ordered community service
- Mandatory attendance in an Alcohol Awareness Course
The penalties increase for any subsequent DUI offenses. For a second DUI, you can face:
- A $500 fine
- Up to 60 hours of community service
- A license suspension from 120 days to 2 years
A third DUI offense will net the same penalties; however, you could lose your license for a time between 180 days and 2 years.
If you or your child drove with someone under the age of 15, or caused property damage, injuries, or a fatality in an accident, felony charges are possible.
A state-jail felony conviction can include the following penalties:
- Between 6 months and 2 years in state jail
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- A license suspension of up to 1 year
You or your child can face the following penalties for a third-degree felony:
- Between 2 years and 10 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- A license suspension of up to 2 years
For a second-degree felony, the following penalties are possible:
- Between 2 and 20 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- A license suspension of up to 2 years
You or your child can face the following with a first-degree felony conviction:
- Between 5 and 99 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- A license suspension of up to 2 years
If you are the parent or caregiver of an underage driver who was recently arrested for DUI, call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg at (214) 696-9253 to speak to a member of our team and help your underage driver protect their reputation and driving record.
An Underage DUI Can Have a Long-Lasting Impact
As the parent of an underage driver, you understand the far-reaching consequences of a criminal conviction even as a minor. In addition to fees, the threat of incarceration, and mandatory community service, a DUI conviction can impact many other areas of your young adult’s life.
A conviction will have to be disclosed on job applications, college applications, and educational scholarship applications. Even without a conviction, a DUI arrest can cause reputation damage, physical damage, and can lead to an increase in the cost of vehicle insurance for an underage driver.
Help your underage driver preserve their current and future reputation. If you are concerned about the potential damage to your underage driver’s future, an Arlington under 21 DUI lawyer can help minimize the negative consequences on your son or daughter’s future. We can also help if you are the one facing charges.
Ask Questions About Your Underage Driver’s Arrest
If an underage driver is also a minor (under the age of 18) specific allowances must be met for their arrest to be deemed valid. Among them are the right to be informed of their Juvenile Statutory Warnings. Similar to the Miranda Warning for adults, the Juvenile Statutory Warnings state your teen driver must be informed of:
- Their right to remain silent and not make any statements
- Anything they say at that time can be used against them
- The right to have a lawyer present before they are questioned
- The right to a lawyer even if they or their parents cannot afford one
- The right to stop an interview session at any time
Underage arrestees must also be held in a place of “nonsecure custody” such as a waiting room versus a jail cell for no more than six hours. If you believe your minor driver’s rights were violated during or after their arrest, share this information with the lawyer you hire to assist your child in their DUI case.
Fight Back with Help from a DUI Lawyer in Arlington
Your underage driver’s entire future is still in front of them. Do not leave their future education, career, and family life goals in jeopardy because of one mistake. A DUI charge is serious, but it does not have to permanently impact their future.
If you believe your son or daughter’s actions did not warrant a DUI charge, protecting their future should be a priority. If you are ready to help them focus on getting their life back on track, an Arlington under 21 DUI lawyer can help. Call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg at (214) 696-9253 to learn more about your underage driver’s ability to retain their driver’s license and preserve their future. The initial case consultation is free.
