Under 21 DUI Offenses
Los Angeles DUI Lawyers
When a driver who is under 21 years old is pulled over for suspected DUI (driving under the influence), he or she will face particular complications associated with this offense. There are actually three different criminal offenses related to underage DUI in California:
- Blood alcohol level of .01% or greater (California Vehicle Code Section 23136) - a driver under the age of 21 who operates a motor vehicle while with a blood alcohol concentration of .01% or greater may face driver's license suspension for 1 year.
- Blood alcohol level of .05% or greater California Vehicle Code Section 23140) - a driver under the age of 21 who operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .05% or greater may face a mandatory alcohol education/rehabilitation program, as well as driver's license suspension for 1 year.
- Blood alcohol level of .08% or greater (California Vehicle Code Section 23152) - for a driver of any age, having a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater is a criminal offense which may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony and may be punishable by: imprisonment, fines, driver's license suspension, community service, probation, and more. In addition to facing regular DUI charges under California Vehicle Code 23152, a driver under the age of 21 may also face additional administrative penalties under California Vehicle Code Section 23136 and 23140.
A person under 21 facing DUI charges of any kind will require the immediate legal counsel of a competent Los Angeles DUI lawyer. To have the best opportunity of avoiding driver's license suspension as well as possible criminal penalties, it is important to entrust your case to an attorney who can accurately evaluate your charges and determine exactly how to approach your defense - at your DMV hearing and in criminal court.
For a free consultation regarding your under 21 DUI charges, contact a Los Angeles DUI attorney at Gold & Witham today.
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