When you’re a new driver, it can all feel exciting and thrilling when you’re behind the wheel. That is, it can be exciting until you see those blue lights in your rearview mirror. Now, you may have been arrested for drinking and driving. The thing is, you’re an underage driver, and that DUI conviction could mean serious trouble.
If you’re an underage driver and you’ve been accused of drinking and driving, seek help from a DUI lawyer in Tampa. You’ve got your life ahead of you, after all, and a DUI could affect you for years to come, so make sure you have the right guidance on your side.
Increased Penalties for Underage Drivers
Florida’s zero tolerance policy states that underage drivers must maintain a BAC under .02 percent. That means that even a single drink could put you over the limit. Now you’re facing penalties for a DUI, and you need to know just how serious a DUI can be before you’re convicted.
For example, if you’ve been pulled over and arrested for a DUI, you may be worried about jail time. That’s especially serious if you’re still a student, which could affect your academic career and your finances. Other losses could leave you dealing with consequences for years or even decades after a drunk driving conviction.
Because these penalties may be even more severe for underage drivers, you may need to talk to your lawyer about your DUI charges. As a newer driver, you could face penalties beyond driving school or classes after a conviction.
Penalties to Your License
If you’re convicted of a DUI, you can say goodbye to your license for a while. Unless you apply for a hardship license, which is offered to those who need a license to support themselves financially, you may lose your license for months. If you’re facing felony DUI charges, that could be years without your license.
You could lose your license if you refuse to take the sobriety test, too. You’ll receive an automatic suspension, so even if you were completely sober, you could be without a license for months. Because these penalties can affect your transportation options, make sure you’re ready to fight back.
Your Insurance Coverage May Suffer
If you’ve been charged with a DUI, one of your first financial concerns may be the fines. While the fines may be high, though, it’s your insurance coverage that could really suffer.
If your insurance company sees that you were not only drinking and driving, but doing so as a minor, you may be penalized harshly. They may raise your rates, or they may drop your coverage entirely. However, you legally must keep coverage on your car, or you could face other financial penalties.
That also means that you may have to settle for a worse insurance policy to cover your needs. This insurance policy may cost much more than your previous policy, only to cover a portion of what you originally had.
Your Legal Options as an Underage Driver
Underage drivers may face more impactful penalties, such as longer license suspensions, driving safety classes, and other legal concerns. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t fight that DUI conviction. In fact, you have some options to defend yourself.
For example, you may contest the evidence the officer has against you. For example, sobriety tests like Breathalyzers may not be foolproof. That’s especially true if the arresting officer didn’t properly calibrate the machine, since the reading may not have been accurate. If you were near a BAC of .02 percent, you may have a chance to fight your charges. Your specific defense, however, will depend on your situation.
How Your Lawyer Can Help
When you’re accused of committing a criminal offense like drinking and driving, your future is already on the line. If you get a DUI as an underage driver, it could seriously impact your future. That conviction could stay on your record, and it could affect your license.
Worse, you may not have the tools to fight the charges. You may not know how to gather the evidence you need to get your charges reduced or dismissed. That’s where a DUI lawyer can help you avoid a conviction.
If you’re facing DUI charges as an underage driver, your lawyer can be vital to keeping your record clean. They have the resources to deal with your particular situation, so you know you have someone on your side to represent your case.
