DC Underage DUI Lawyer
If you or someone you know under the age of 21 is charged with driving under the influence (DUI), it is in your best interest to contact a DUI lawyer in Washington, DC with experience handling underage DUI cases. A DC Underage DUI lawyer will explain your rights and how to proceed with your defense.
The District of Columbia has a “zero tolerance” stance against all driving offenses where the suspect has allegedly abused drugs or alcohol to the point that it affects the ability to drive safely. Another part of DC zero tolerance involves underage drivers and holders of commercial drivers’ licenses.
A criminal record can be detrimental to a person’s future by potentially affecting future employment, education and financial opportunities. An underage DUI lawyer can help support your case by challenging the basis of a traffic stop and any evidence of impairment.
An underage DUI attorney in DC can also examine blood alcohol content results to determine if any calibration or medical issues resulted in inaccurate scores.
Contact a DC Underage DUI Attorney Today
An experienced underage DUI lawyer can diligently represent and advocate for you during the criminal proceedings that follows a DUI charge. Call a DC underage DUI lawyer if you find yourself facing these charges.
DC DUI Laws for Underage Drivers
Prosecutors can charge an individual who is under 21 with a DUI if they have proof that the individual had consumed any amount of alcohol prior to driving a car. Even if an underage driver is not appreciably impaired by alcohol while driving, the mere presence of alcohol in their system can cause a DUI charge.
For an underage driver, something as minor as the smell of alcohol can be enough to justify an arrest.
For example, if a 28 year-old is pulled over, arrested, and provides a breath sample where the final results of the breath sample shows that a person has a blood alcohol content of 0.03, which is very low, prosecutors would have a difficult time proving this amount of alcohol would cause a person to become impaired.
On the other hand, if a person under 21 gives a breath sample with a blood alcohol content of 0.03, then that would be sufficient to prove guilt because any amount of alcohol in a person’s system would be enough to charge and convict a person with a DUI.
Court Processes in DC for a Person Under 21
Even though the standard is lower for someone who is under 21, Washington, DC law makes those 21 and younger eligible for treatment under the Youth Rehabilitation Act. While it may be easier to be found guilty of a DUI when you are under 21, you may be able to take advantage of a law that will seal all records of your case if you successfully complete your sentence.
A DC underage DUI lawyer can help guide you through the various steps of these court proceedings.
The Prosecution of Underage DUI Cases
Prosecutors who handle DUIs for people over 21 also handle DUIs for those who are under 21. As long as the person is 18 or older, they will still go through the normal adult system. Even 18-year-olds can be arrested, charged with a crime, arraigned, and required to handle a status hearing in the normal adult court.
Some of the options for possible resolutions may be different and may be more lenient than for a person who is 22 years old. Call a DC underage DUI lawyer today for a free consultation regarding your case.