About 37 individuals every day, or 39 per minute, lose their lives in drunk driving accidents. 13,384 people died in drunk driving traffic accidents, 14% more than the previous year. In a given year, about 1.5 million people are arrested for DUI-related crimes, according to the NHTSA. Several statistics claim that about 18% of drivers under 21 acknowledged driving while intoxicated. About 2000 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die every year from alcohol-related injuries. While both male and female students displayed risky behavior, male college students were more likely to drink and drive. Incidentally, DUIs are avoidable. The consequences of teenage drunk driving instances are considered a zero-tolerance offense. When your teen gets into such a violation, immediately hire a DUI lawyer who is adept with your state laws.
DUI Laws for the underaged
All states have ‘zero-tolerance’ regulations applicable to drivers under the age of 21. These efforts restrict underage drunk driving, which tends to have legal repercussions. Besides, it also has detrimental impacts on their educational and employment prospects. That is why every state has laws for conviction or non-conviction of teenage DUI.
Zero-tolerance
Regulations apply to drivers under the age of 21 – prohibited from operating a vehicle even with a small amount of alcohol in their bloodstream. The legislation varies from 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and so on, depending on the state. Zero-tolerance violences are classified as administrative offenses in various states and considered misdemeanors in most states.
Standard DUIs
Any driver may be found guilty of a conventional DUI regardless of age. The individual drives the vehicle while intoxicated under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a BAC or blood alcohol content of 0.8% or more. Standard DUIs are misdemeanors and criminal offenses across all states.
Penalties for underage DUIs
The consequences for underage DUIs vary by state. These also depend upon the specifics of the case. A minor driving under the influence invites license suspension. Other factors considered:
- Fines – these could range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, along with one year in prison
- Community service
- Treatment for substance or alcohol abuse
- Installation of an IID or ignition interlock device
Typically, the consequences for an underage DUI are less severe than those for a regular DUI. However, the minor may not be exempt from receiving a conviction.
College applications and financial aid
Several college applications request specifications of any conviction. While infarctions and administrative offenses are not crimes, misdemeanors are criminal. Check if the state considers an underage DUI offense a crime. Although not overlooked, it does not bar you from receiving a scholarship or aid.
Honors
Most colleges stipulate codes with specific norms that dictate minimum required behavior for students. Typically codes break due to criminal action, including DUIs. However, this does not invite expulsion. Universities provide less severe measures for initial offenses, like issuing a formal warning or community service.
Financial Aid
While students receive financial support from federal and state governments, the state specifies its own requirements to distribute such aid. A DUI conviction could impact this facility, depending on the state where a university resides. Drug possessions and sales convictions must be declared on the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid but not DUIs.
DUI offenses are preventable, especially if we understand the fundamental causes that lead to such situations.
Underlying causes of teen DUIs
A teen’s high or intoxicated driving is considered dangerous behavior with fatal consequences. Lack of impulse control, peer pressure, or desire to push boundaries may contribute to such risky choices.
However, a teen’s DUI raises a red flag indicative of an undiagnosed mental health disorder. Teenage substance abuse points to signs of untreated sadness, anxiety, or trauma. Individuals dealing with one or more of these problems turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping. Risk-taking is self-medication for some who use it to combat numbness that occasionally accompanies trauma and stress.
Teen drinking and driving relates to impulsivity and poor executive functioning. These are undoubtedly signs of mental health issues. Bipolar disorder and other personality disorders commonly manifest later, leading to emotional dysregulation.
If you think your teen is battling depression or trauma, address the issue immediately.
How to deal with teen DUI?
The consequences of your teen’s DUI can be overwhelming. First, encourage your adolescent to correct the course. You don’t have to wait until a legal procedure to find corrective action for psychological and behavioral concerns. Here’s how to proceed:
- Talk to the teen – At this point, the teen is probably feeling just as horrible as the adult. Don’t let them suffer in silence. Provide a judgment-free space where they can discuss their problems leading to the DUI.
- Understand the severity of the issue – The teen must comprehend the seriousness of the problem. At the same time, we don’t want to stunt their growing independence. A license suspension (a common repercussion of a DUI) may be sufficient to help them understand the gravity of the problem.
- Rebuild trust – Despite being a severe offense, an underage DUI does not mean you must distrust the child. Indeed, the child must have faith to approach you without inhibitions.
- Get a comprehensive mental health evaluation – A mental health diagnosis can set the course of future action for the teen. The adolescent can be screened for any problem, including anxiety, depression, or substance abuse due to trauma.
- Find proper treatment options – Treatment is vital if the teen is evaluated for a mental health issue. Weekly counseling and outpatient care are some of the best options, depending on the severity of the diagnosis.
Conclusion
Whenever you or your teen is detained for intoxicated driving, you must contact a DUI law firm instantly. You must express your worries candidly and how a conviction could affect education or career opportunities, particularly if charged with underage DUI.
Background checks on potential employees are not uncommon. Additionally, a DUI conviction shows up on a background check on a background check because it constitutes a criminal offense. However, underage DUI goes unaccounted, considering the number of years in the past.
