Contrary to popular belief, underage individuals often face the same penalties as adults do. While the courts may be more lenient on underage individuals, especially those with minimal criminal records, it is important to consult an attorney in order to explore what your options may be. If you want to better understand the impact of an underage DUI in West Palm Beach, speak with a qualified underage DUI attorney that could answer your questions.
Jail Penalties
The penalties for a person who is convicted of DUI when they are under the age of 21 are the same for a person who is under the age of 18 or also over the age of 21. DUI is a DUI if a person is under the influence of alcohol or driving over the legal limit, it does not matter what their age is if they are juvenile, young adult or senior citizen, it is the same charge. Specific penalties for a person who is convicted of a DUI when they are under the age of 21 would include all the other penalties that would be included if the person was over 21 or even 18 or under 18.
These penalties are a conviction to a crime which will at the very least be a first-degree misdemeanor. That conviction will stay on their record for the rest of their life. A person under the age of 21 will be placed on probation from anywhere from six months to a year. They will have to pay fines and court costs, minimum around $1,000, maximum over $2,000.
Non-Carceral Consequences for Underage DUIs
The impact of an underage DUI in West Palm Beach does not always involve incarceration. A person may have to attend a DUI school, also 50 hours of community service, the victim impact panel, driver’s license suspension, vehicle immobilization, and will not be allowed to consume any alcohol or any controlled substances without a valid prescription and be subject to random testing.
In addition to all of that, the person’s motor vehicle, even if it is a family vehicle, so if a person was driving their mother or father’s vehicle, would be subject to a 10-day vehicle immobilization. In addition, a person under the age of 21 will lose their driver’s license for at least six months if it is a first DUI with the minimum penalties.
<h2″>Obtaining a Restricted License After Getting an Underage DUI
The process for obtaining a restricted license after getting an underage DUI is the same process an adult would have to go through. The underage DUI defendant would have to enroll and/or complete the appropriate level DUI school, usually that will be a 12-hour class, and they need to present that proof of enrollment or receipt for enrollment to the Bureau of Administrative Reviews of the Department of Highway and Safety Motor Vehicles, request a hearing for $25 have that hearing, present the fact that they had enrolled in the school and/or completed it depending upon the stage of their case and that they need a driver’s license to maintain their livelihood and to take care of their daily necessities. The process is the same for an adult as it would be for an underage driver who gets a DUI.
Consequences of Conviction
There is no juvenile code for underage DUI. There is no juvenile code for any driving or traffic offenses. If an underage driver commits a DUI, they are subject to the same penalties as an adult. That means if they are guilty then they are going to have a record that is going to stay with them for the rest of their life and it is going to make them getting insurance very expensive as they would be considered a high-risk driver both by an insurance carrier and possibly by the state depending upon the facts of the DUI case. The impact of an underage DUI in West Palm Beach is that the DUI will stay on their record for the rest of their life. It will be a public record that anyone will be able to see. It will be a factor that will be considered before they are insured by any insurance company and will factor into that person’s insurance rates for many years to come.
Long-Term Implications of an Underage DUI
Long-term implications are that the person would be convicted of the offense. It would stay on their record for the rest of their life. It is not eligible to be sealed or expunged. It is viewable by the entire public whoever pulls a copy of their driver’s license record, and it is also viewable by the insurance industry.
It will affect the person’s ability to get employment. It may disqualify them from certain professions, perhaps being a law enforcement officer or a commercial airline pilot and it will also be viewable to any insurance company who is looking to underwrite or insure the individuals. The long-term impact of an underage DUI in West Palm Beach is serious, which is why if an individual has been charged with an underage DUI offense, they should speak with a capable underage DUI attorney that could advocate for them.
