Answer: A sad situation and an all-too-familiar one at that. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 2015 survey found that 33 percent of high school students drank alcohol and 8 percent drove after drinking. In fact, 20 percent had stated that they rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.
New Jersey is very strict when it comes to teens drinking and driving. It doesn’t take much to be considered driving while drunk as a teen — all you need is a BAC that’s 0.01 percent to be facing charges of underage DUI. Your daughter is facing the following penalties:
- A suspension of her license from 30 days to 90 days
- 15-3o days of mandatory community service
- Participation in alcohol education and highway safety programs
- And, depending on the situation, facing DUI penalties given to adults, such as fines and an ignition interlock installed on the car.
This doesn’t even cover any penalties she’s facing for underage drinking. That will come with its own fines and penalties.
Will she be going to jail? Chances are slim. Remember the juvenile criminal defense system is different from the adult system. So she’s more likely to be facing fines and a loss of her license. Especially if this is her first offense.
As for her future, it’s pretty cloudy right now. An underage DUI charge can go on her criminal record, which could affect her chances of getting into a college, a trade school, or even getting a good job out of high school.
The best thing you can do for your daughter right now is to hire an experienced juvenile criminal defense lawyer to help with your case. Your attorney will be able to help get the most lenient sentence for your daughter.
If your son or daughter is facing underage DWI charges, don’t wait. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone now for a free consultation.