What if My Child is Charged with a DUI?

You may assume that you taught your child to know better than to consume alcohol before they turn 21 years old, let alone get behind the wheel after doing so. Unfortunately, though, peer pressure or sheer carelessness that comes with adolescence may hinder their judgment and drive them to this point. Hopefully, your child was stopped by a law enforcement officer before they could seriously harm anyone or initiate an auto accident. But even so, the Tennessee criminal court may show zero tolerance or leniency in their case. With that being said, please follow along to find out what happens if your underage child is charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol and how one of the proficient Clarksville DUI lawyers at Fendley and Birch can step in at this critical time.

What happens if my underage child is charged with a DUI?

At your child’s traffic stop, a law enforcement officer may ask them to submit to a breathalyzer test. If this device indicates that their blood-alcohol content (BAC) level is 0.02 percent or higher, they may be subsequently charged with a DUI. This is considerably less than the legal limit for adult drivers, which is 0.08 percent. Without further ado, in this case, your child may be up against the following consequences:

• A fine of up to $250.
• A driver’s license suspension of up to one year.
• Court-ordered community service of up to 20 hours.
• Mandatory participation in a youth alcohol safety program.

What if my child had a BAC level of 0.08 percent or higher?

Sadly, if your underage child is detected to have a BAC level of 0.08 percent or higher, they may be punished the same as an adult. That said, the potential penalties are as follows:

• A first-offense DWI for an underaged driver with a BAC level of 0.08 percent or higher:
  • A fine of anywhere between $350 to $1,500.
  • A jail sentence of between 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days.
  • A driver’s license suspension of up to one year.
  • Mandatory participation in an alcohol and drug treatment program.
• A first-offense DWI for an underaged driver with a BAC level of 0.15 percent or higher:
  • A fine of $350 to $1,500 or more.
  • A jail sentence of at least seven days.
  • A driver’s license suspension of one year or longer, with the possibility of a restricted license.
  • Mandatory participation in an alcohol and drug treatment program.

Your child may be paying for a mistake they made in adolescence for most or all of their adult life. While you may be understandably mad and disappointed in them, you must put this aside in their most desperate moment of need and employ legal representation on their behalf.

To conclude, if you require further clarification on this issue, one of the talented Montgomery County criminal defense lawyers from Fendley and Birch is willing to offer it. So please do not hesitate to seek out our services. We look forward to helping you.