[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/underage-driver-dui-consequences\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/underage-driver-dui-consequences\/","headline":"The Consequences Of DUIs For Underage Drivers","name":"The Consequences Of DUIs For Underage Drivers","description":"Impaired driving is a national problem. Although trending slightly downward from 2016,\u00a0in 2017 45,656 arrests\u00a0took place in Pennsylvania for driving under the influence (DUI). According to the Criminal Justice Information Services division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), in\u00a02016 police arrested more than one-million drivers for...","datePublished":"2019-06-13","dateModified":"2024-06-19","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/#Person","name":"Brian Zeiger, LLC","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Zeiger Firm","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","width":257,"height":59}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dui-arrest-in-philadelphia.png","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dui-arrest-in-philadelphia.png","height":333,"width":500},"url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/underage-driver-dui-consequences\/","about":["Driving Under The Influence"],"wordCount":1022,"articleBody":"Impaired driving is a national problem. Although trending slightly downward from 2016,\u00a0in 2017 45,656 arrests\u00a0took place in Pennsylvania for driving under the influence (DUI).According to the Criminal Justice Information Services division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), in\u00a02016 police arrested more than one-million drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. Despite these sobering statistics, a\u00a0fact sheet\u00a0on underage drinking published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that a survey among high school students found that in the 30 days prior to the survey date:30 percent drank some amount of alcohol14 percent binge drank6 percent drove after drinking alcohol17 percent rode with a driver who had been drinking alcoholThe Story Behind Pennsylvania\u2019s Alcohol LawsWhen Prohibition was nationally repealed in 1933, the governor of Pennsylvania at the time, Gifford Pinchot, called a special session of the General Assembly and formed the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for the purpose of making drinking alcohol as\u00a0\u201cinconvenient and expensive as possible.\u201dProhibition has been the only constitutional amendment ever repealed, and Pennsylvania\u2019s alcohol laws still reflect former Gov. Gifford Pinchot\u2019s intended purpose. Accordingly, the state has a monopoly on the sale of distilled spirits.Pennsylvania Takes DUI SeriouslyPennsylvania\u2019s\u00a0penalties\u00a0and fines for DUI are divided into three classifications based on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of the driver, listed below:General Impairment BAC: 0.08 percent to 0.099 percentHigh BAC: 0.10 percent to 0.159 percentHighest BAC: 0.16 percent and over (or if under the influence of a controlled substance)Depending on whether the charge is a first, second, or third (or more) offense, those convicted of driving under the influence can expect to receive the following:Jail time: Five days to five yearsFines: $300 to $10,000License suspension: One year to 18 monthsMandatory alcohol highway safety schoolMandatory alcohol and drug treatmentIgnition interlock system for one yearThose drivers who do not submit to blood alcohol tests may face additional penalties, even if a first offense.Punishment for Underage DUI in PennsylvaniaThe standard for an underage driver\u00a0is much stricter than a driver who is of legal drinking age. A driver under the age of 21 only needs to have a BAC of 0.02 percent or higher to receive a DUI conviction. Minors convicted of a DUI can expect the following:For a first offense, the mandatory minimum sentence is:48 hours in jail$500 fine12-month license suspensionAlcohol safety school and any alcohol\/drug treatment program that the court deems necessaryFor a second offense, the mandatory minimum sentence is:30 days in jail$750 fine12-month license suspensionAlcohol safety school and any alcohol\/drug treatment program that the court deems necessaryFor a third offense, the mandatory minimum sentence is:90 days in jail$1,500 fine18-month license suspensionAlcohol safety school and any alcohol\/drug treatment program that the court deems necessaryOne Bad Choice Does Not Have to Define Your FutureSince the 1980s, Pennsylvania\u2019s\u00a0Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program\u00a0has been giving select first-time offenders the opportunity to remove the DUI conviction from their criminal records. Participation in this program allows offenders to avoid a conviction, and their criminal records are expunged after satisfactory completion of all requirements.Only first-time DUI offenders are eligible for the ARD program, and admission into the program is not automatic. Prosecutors make the decision of whom to accept into this diversion program; however, there are certain situations that automatically prevent eligibility. A driver will not be accepted if:The offense caused a serious injuryThe offense resulted in an accident that caused a fatalityThere was a child under the age of 14 in the vehicleThe ARD program requirements are based on an evaluation of the details of each individual case and the blood alcohol level of the driver. Typically, a participant must complete:Alcohol highway safety classesPossible counselingCommunity serviceFinesProbationFollowing an Arrest for Underage DUIThe best advice for anyone, especially a young person under the age of 21, if stopped by law enforcement for suspected DUI, is to remain calm, be polite, and ask to speak with an attorney. In theory, once a driver is stopped an investigation has begun. Everything an individual says or does could end up in a police report. Nothing good will come from being rude, combative, or defiant.Remember, being cooperative does not mean that a driver must answer any alcohol-related questions. If there are obvious signs of alcohol consumption (bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, the smell of alcohol), it is more than likely that police will arrest the stopped individual. No matter how old the driver is, it is within his or her rights to ask to speak with an attorney before answering any questions.Collateral Implications of an Underage DUIThere are 173 colleges in Pennsylvania, and while not all of them are likely to have a code of conduct, many of them likely have a\u00a0code of conduct\u00a0similar to the ones at Penn State and at\u00a0Lehigh, which concern alcohol consumption by underage students. A DUI conviction may result in a student facing suspension or expulsion, and it could also jeopardize scholarship or loan money.A criminal conviction is a public record, and a DUI is a stigmatized crime. Society may impose collateral consequences on young people found guilty of DUI. Insurance rates may increase significantly, and potential employers may be hesitant to hire someone with a criminal record.The Importance of Legal RepresentationWhen dealing with underage DUI charges in Pennsylvania, an aggressive and experienced attorney, like\u00a0Brian Zeiger,\u00a0is a defendant\u2019s best defense against charges that can have lifetime consequences.At the Zeiger Firm, our Philadelphia DUI defense lawyer can evaluate your case and determine all of your viable legal options to secure the best possible outcome for you and your family. Do not risk facing serious underage DUI charges without skilled legal counsel.The legal team at the Zeiger Firm is specifically trained to deal with the constitutional issues and legal defenses associated with juvenile legal matters, including underage DUIs. Call the Zeiger Firm today at (215) 546-0340, or\u00a0contact us online, before things get out of hand."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Consequences Of DUIs For Underage Drivers","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/underage-driver-dui-consequences\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]