Underage DUI

Pittsburgh Underage DUI Attorney

There is probably nothing more frightening for a minor than to be pulled over by the police and charged with Underage DUI.

With a large number of traffic deaths and injuries being caused by people under the age of 21 who are driving under the influence, law enforcement agencies are maintaining strict vigilance to prevent more. They are crafting stringent laws to deal with those who drive drunk and are under Pennsylvania’s legal drinking age: 21.

The blood alcohol content standards are far more strict for people below 21 years of age than it is for adults. For those over 21, a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher results in a driving under the influence charge. For minors, that number drops to .02 percent or higher.

Underage drivers caught and convicted of driving under the influence face lost driving privileges and possible jail time. And, the amounts they pay for auto insurance will rise exponentially. If you or one of your loved ones has been charged with Underage DUI, you should immediately retain a defense attorney who has the knowledge and experience required to aggressively represent you. An Underage DUI Attorney in Pittsburgh like Sean Logue is the perfect choice.

Facts about Underage DUI in Pennsylvania

As in many states in the U. S., Pennsylvania has a “zero tolerance” policy in regards to underage drinking and driving. If you are under the age of 21 and caught with any amount of booze in your system, you will automatically lose your driver’s license for three months.

If it is your first offense, and your blood alcohol content is .02 percent or higher, you may be sent to jail for a minimum of 48 hours, your license may be suspended for up to a year, and you may have to pay a fine of between $500 and $5,000. You will be required to go to a highway safety school that focuses on alcohol-related driving, and you may be required by the judge to go through a treatment program.

For second and third offenses, the jail sentences are longer, the fines are more expensive, and the license suspensions are longer.

Criminal Record

Being convicted of driving under the influence will leave you with a criminal record. This record will show up on any background check that is run on you, which means that the decisions of people like college admissions officers, potential employers, or apartment owners may be affected, leading them to deny your applications.

Car Insurance

Insurance rates go up when drivers are convicted of driving under the influence. As you are already paying higher premiums just for being under the age of 25, a DUI conviction will make them seem astronomical. It’s possible that your insurance company will drop you, refusing to insure you further, and you will have a difficult time finding someone else who will.

How Can a Pittsburgh Underage DUI Lawyer Help You?

If your son or daughter is arrested for underage DUI, you will need a lawyer to stand beside you as you travel the court system. He or she must be someone who will work hard, disprove the evidence, and help you decide on the best plan for you to follow.

If your child’s case is scheduled to be tried in an adult court, your lawyer will do his or her best to have the case moved to juvenile court.

Underage DUI charges can cause many negative consequences in the life of a young person. Sean Logue and Logue Law Group have defended, successfully, hundreds of clients over the last few years, and have always prepared a good defense for them. Don’t wait to contact an educated and dedicated Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer from Logue Law Group. For help and a free consultation, call us at (412) 612-2210 or (412) 389-0805, or contact us online.

Do not delay in hiring an underage DUI lawyer in Pittsburgh. If you wait, it will be more difficult for your child to have a good outcome to their case.

Interested in Learning More About Minors Law in Pennsylvania?

A definition and description of laws for minors can be found in the Pennsylvania Code under Title 18, Chapter 63.

A DUI is always a serious thing. But, when the person getting the DUI is underage, it becomes even more so. The number of underage drivers who drive while intoxicated is disproportionately large. As a result, there are harsh penalties put into place in the law to keep young people from driving while intoxicated. If your child has been arrested for underage DUI, the advice of a Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney can be invaluable.

A trained and dedicated Pittsburgh DUI attorney can help keep a DUI charge from destroying the future of an underage drunk driver. Asking for alternative penalties is one method. Others include fighting the charges and getting the court records sealed if there is a conviction. Young people faced with DUI charges need to know that their attorneys will be proactive in seeking out a good resolution to their case. An underage driver’s future educational opportunities and employment are at stake.

Underage DUI Penalties in Pittsburgh

For adult drivers, the legal blood alcohol content limit is 0.08%. An adult whose BAC is above that will be charged with DUI. For an underage driver, meaning a driver who is under the age of 21, that level is lowered to 0.02%.

Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code, Section 3804, lists potential consequences for an underage DUI. These consequences increase and are based on the driver’s prior offenses. First-time offenders generally face jail sentences of up to 90 days and fines of $300 to $500. If the blood alcohol content of the driver was above 0.10, the drivers driving privileges could be suspended for up to one year.

The second time a person is convicted of DUI, the jail sentence is a minimum of five days but can go as long as six months. The fine associated with the charge is between $300 and $2,500. Additionally, the driver faces a one-year license suspension. Additional or subsequent offenses come with increased penalties.

New laws passed in 2018 make repeat DUI charges a felony, with prison sentences of five years or more attached to them. If the DUI accident causes a death, the penalties are even worse.

Drivers who refuse to submit to blood, breath, or urine tests to determine blood alcohol content face additional penalties, including driver license suspensions of one year.

Drivers convicted of DUI face additional consequences outside of the courtroom. Insurance rates, already steep for teenagers, can skyrocket because of the DUI conviction. Sometimes drivers are dropped from their insurance company altogether. In addition, some colleges and employers exclude candidates for having a criminal record.

Consequences for Underage DUI Offenses Related to Education

Students who are drivers convicted of DUI may find themselves appearing at a disciplinary hearing at their school.

Different schools use different procedures, but a Pittsburgh DUI lawyer can advise you on the best way to defend yourself during that hearing, or he may be able to speak for you. It’s important to know the best way to defend yourself, because you may face a suspension or expulsion at this hearing.

A conviction for DUI can ruin the future of a young person. Obtaining the best representation available is the only way to ensure you get the best outcome possible, saving your educational and employment opportunities. Sean Logue and his associates at Logue Law Group are highly trained in DUI law, traffic stops, and the science of blood alcohol testing. Their dedication and expertise have helped hundreds of people get their DUI charges dropped or dismissed. Give them a call today at 1-844-PITT-DUI or 412-389-0805. If you prefer, they can be reached online here. They offer free consultations and are available 24/7. Logue Law Group serves Pittsburgh, PA, Ohio, and West Virginia.

For the best outcome to your child’s underage DUI case, you should call Logue Law Group immediately. To delay could mean the difference between the future you want for your child, and the one you want the least for him or her.