An underage DUI charge can seriously impact your life, from your education to your employment opportunities. While you may not receive a jail sentence, a conviction can remain on your record for years. Our committed DUI defense attorneys are available to help if you are facing a drinking and driving charge under the age of 21. A Nashville underage DUI lawyer from Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys can help you understand the legal challenges and assist you during each stage of your defense.
What Constitutes Underage DUI?
If you are a driver under the age of 21, state law treats you differently from an adult driver because it is illegal for you to consume alcohol. While drivers aged 21 and older generally violate DUI laws by operating a vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher, you can receive an underage DUI charge with a BAC of just 0.02 percent.
To convict someone of these charges, a prosecutor must prove that they operated or were in physical control of a motor vehicle while their BAC was within the prohibited range. If an underage driver has a BAC measured at 0.08 percent or higher, prosecutors may charge them with a standard DUI, which results in more severe penalties.
Alcohol is not the only substance that may result in these charges. If law enforcement believes drugs impaired your ability to drive, you could also receive DUI charges under state law, regardless of your age. Prescription medications, marijuana, and illegal drugs can all result in criminal charges if they affect your ability to operate a vehicle safely. Our Nashville attorneys are experienced with juvenile impaired driving cases and can help you challenge these allegations.
What Penalties Could You Face for an Underage DUI Conviction?
An underage DUI conviction can create immediate and lasting consequences. Although the state’s zero-tolerance law generally includes lighter penalties than an adult conviction, the consequences can continue to affect you for years. Given the risks, working with our Nashville attorneys for minor impaired driving cases as soon as possible after your arrest is essential. Potential penalties include:
- Fines
- Court costs
- Mandatory public service
- Driver’s license suspension
- Alcohol safety education requirements
However, you would not receive a jail sentence for this offense. Nonetheless, the consequences can affect other areas of your life. Several organizations may require you to disclose criminal convictions during an application process, including:
- Employers
- Military branches
- Scholarship programs
- Colleges and universities
In certain careers, a conviction may also affect your ability to secure or retain professional licensing.
What Defense Strategies Are Available?
An arrest for underage DUI does not guarantee a conviction. With the support of our skilled attorneys for Nashville underage drunk driving charges, you could challenge the charges using one of the following strategies.
Challenge the Traffic Stop
Police officers must have legal justification to stop your vehicle. If an officer lacked reasonable suspicion that you committed a traffic violation or another offense, the stop may have violated your constitutional rights. If the court finds the stop unlawful, our lawyers can ask the court to exclude some of the evidence the officer collected against you.
Challenge the Chemical Test
Chemical testing provides important evidence in many DUI prosecutions, but it is not infallible. Breath testing devices produce accurate results only when technicians properly calibrate them, and personnel must collect and store blood samples according to protocol. Our team can challenge test results that authorities did not obtain in compliance with state law.
Contact Our Nashville Juvenile Drunk Driving Attorneys to Discuss Your Defense Options
If you are under the age of 21 and face drinking and driving charges, now is the time to explore your defense options and connect with a firm that can help protect your rights. At Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys, we are committed to providing strategic representation for your defense case. Call us to speak with a Nashville underage DUI lawyer from our firm today and schedule a free private consultation.
