Tampa Under 21 DUI Defense Lawyers

Florida takes the safety of those on the road very seriously, whether pedestrians, commercial drivers, cyclists, bus drivers, or passenger vehicle drivers. That is why they have put numerous laws in place to protect these individuals, particularly against the acts of drunk drivers. Regardless of whether you are 18 or 80, the law enforces strict penalties for those accused of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even as an underage or juvenile driver, you could face very serious repercussions.

Florida's Zero-Tolerance Policy

Florida has a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol consumption under the legal age of 21. Despite its strict laws on the subject, it has been estimated that 9.5 percent of all the alcohol sold in Florida is consumed by underaged persons. Penalties for violating these laws once arrested and convicted are extremely severe but can be lessened or altogether avoided with the help of the right DUI attorney in Tampa. For persons of at least 21 years, a BAC level of over .08 percent means they are legally intoxicated and can be charged.

That threshold is shortened for persons under the age of 21. Because alcohol consumption for such persons in illegal, the legal limit for BAC is reduced to 0.02. This means if any trace of alcohol is detected in someone who is not yet 21 and was driving after drinking, they can be charged with underage DUI. While the effects may vary depending on the weight and size of the person, even one drink can cause a BAC level of 0.02.

Avoid Conviction of Underage DUI

The stakes are much higher for Floridians facing charges of underage DUI. Not only will the sentence be a burden at the time it is being carried out, but the conviction record will affect the individual's future in many negative ways. Because of this, it is important to take every measure to either lessen the charge or have it be dismissed altogether.

However, given Florida's strict laws on the subject, achieving these results requires a special degree of skill on the part of a Tampa DUI attorney. Conviction is a very real possibility but it is not a necessary reality.

If you have been charged with DUI and you are under the legal drinking age, you need to contact a Tampa DUI attorney.

Understanding the Different Penalties

Penalties for Underage DUI

The penalties for being convicted of a DUI before 21 are both immediate and long-term.

Fines, license suspension, and regulations are more severe because of the nature of the crime. Not only is there a violation of driving standards, but the individual found guilty of underage DUI was also guilty of underage drinking while driving under the influence. For this reason, Florida law enforcement takes this offense extremely seriously. While penalties vary based on the actual BAC level recorded and the age of the individual, penalties for both adults and minors under the age of 21 are more serious than those drinking at a legal age.

General Penalties for DUI Under 21

A person under 21 found with a BAC of more than 0.02% will have their driver's license suspended for at least 6 months for a first offense. For a second offense, the license will be suspended for at least one year. If the DUI test revealed a BAC of 0.05 or more, the license will be suspended indefinitely until the individual has completed the court-ordered substance abuse course and passed the evaluation.

For persons under the age of 19, the results of the substance abuse evaluation will be released to their parents or legal guardian. If the person fails the evaluation, their license will remain suspended until they pass. In the event that an individual under the legal age is suspected of DUI refuses to take a breath or blood test to reveal BAC, their license will be automatically suspended for one year. If the individual had refused such a test once before, their license will be suspended for 18 months by default.

Adults between the age of 18 and 21 who are charged with DUI are subject to being tried as adults for the offense.

This means that they will face penalties at the level of an adult including harsh fines, jail time served, the installation of an ignition interlock device, and other various sanctions. For those whose license has been suspended for a DUI related charge, driving with a suspended license can result in automatic conviction of a misdemeanor or felony DUI which will be accompanied by additional penalties.

Juvenile Penalties for DUI Under 18

DUI involving an individual under the age of 18 will be processed as a juvenile offense. In addition to the aforementioned penalties for underage DUI, minors convicted of DUI will be subject to admittance into an addictions receiving facility in the county where they were arrested. While they will not be tried as adults in most cases, minors convicted of DUI will face sentences including time served in juvenile hall, fines for court and traffic courses. A juvenile conviction for DUI can significantly affect an individual's chances for future scholarships, college admittance and employment. While DUI convictions typically result in some sort of increase in insurance premiums for adults over the legal age, minors convicted of DUI usually experience an increase of up to $8000 for the time the points are relevant.

Long-Term Effects of an Underage DUI

For adults over 21, a DUI typically means fines, AA meetings, DUI School, and the possibility of jail. For the young driver, an underage DUI can mean so much more. For instance, if a young driver is found guilty of DUI, their insurance premiums will shoot through the roof.

Can you, or your parents afford skyrocketing insurance premiums? If you are in high school and applying to colleges, a DUI can certainly affect your educational opportunities. Some colleges will not give a scholarship to applicants with criminal records and many college sport teams will not allow a player to be on their team with a criminal record whatsoever. If you’re applying for a much-needed college scholarship, and it’s between you and another applicant with a spotless record, a DUI can be a deal breaker. What’s more, a DUI can impact individuals seeking certain professional licenses, such as those seeking to be in nursing, law, and other professional occupations.

Are you planning on a career in the U.S. Armed Forces? If so, a DUI conviction may affect your ability to join the military. If you are allowed to join the Armed Forces, the DUI may affect your opportunities for advancement and it can keep you from becoming a respected officer. You will want to ask your recruiter about this because it can be an issue, even years from now. Hope to have a security clearance one day? Hope to join law enforcement or the FBI? Know that a DUI is a black mark on your record and can affect both educational and career opportunities.

If you or a loved one has been charged with an underage DUI charge, contact our firm for a free consultation.

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DUI Defense in Florida

At Thomas & Paulk, one of our primary focuses is on the defense of DUI charges. In fact, we are recognized throughout the Tampa area as one of the premier DUI defense law firms. Our team is well-versed in this area of the law and has a wide-expanse of experience in helping our clients fight against such charges.

It doesn’t matter if this is your first offense or your third, you can count on our firm to have the experience to protect your legal rights. Often, our defense starts with recounting with you how the police officer came to stop you in the first place and how he or she came to believe you may be under the influence of alcohol. If the stop was illegal, or the tests were improperly administered, we may be able to argue for the dismissal of that evidence in court, helping your chances of a dropped charge.

The important thing is that you act quickly. Criminal cases involving charges of drinking and driving are serious and they can move fast. You cannot afford to wait or ignore your charges. You need a legal professional on your side who truly understands what you're facing so that they can offer you experience counsel and sound advice. To learn more about how a lawyer like this can assist with your case, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible. Call our Tampa DUI defense attorneys at Thomas & Paulk today to schedule an initial consultation. This is a completely free, confidential appointment for you to tell us your side of the story

If you're arrested for DUI, you only have 10 days to schedule a DMV hearing where you can fight to save your license.
A blood alcohol reading of 0.15% or more can warrant an aggravated DUI charge with harsher penalties.
Each year, Hillsborough County issues around 4,000 DUI citations. Out of these, more than 3,000 are found guilty.
Per Florida's zero-tolerance policy, anyone under the age of 21 who tests positive for any measurable blood alcohol can be charged with DUI.

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