You must understand that the state of New Jersey enforces a zero-tolerance law for drivers under the legal drinking age of 21 who are caught driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. Even though you are still considered a minor under the eyes of the law, you may fear that with the strict policy, you will face jail time and other serious consequences. Well, if this is your current predicament, please follow along to find out the possible penalties for underage drinking, and how a proficient Morristown DUI defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC, can help you resolve this reckless mistake you may have made.
What are the penalties for underage drinking in New Jersey?
Specifically, under the zero-tolerance doctrine, an underage driver may be subject to DUI penalties if their blood alcohol content (BAC) level is just 0.01 percent. For reference, the general legal limit is set at 0.08 percent.
Unlike if an adult were to commit a DUI offense, jail time is a less common consequence for underage drunk drivers. However, they may still be penalized with a driver’s license suspension of 30 to 90 days, along with mandatory participation in an alcohol education program, highway safety program, and/or community service.
In addition, the New Jersey criminal court may impose fines, court fees, and other surcharges. For an underage individual, these financial penalties can add up quickly and create a huge setback. This is not to mention that their auto insurance premiums may undoubtedly skyrocket after this gets added to their driving record. Thinking long-term, having this on their record may affect their employment opportunities, especially in professions that require driving.
Can an underage DUI offense lead to possible jail time?
While it is rare for a New Jersey criminal court to order an underage driver to serve jail time for their DUI offense, it is not entirely out of the question. This is true if the court discovers that aggravated factors contributed to the driver’s ultimate arrest.
For example, a driver may have had a measured BAC level of 0.08 percent, which is considred high given their age. Or, with their drunk driving, they caused an accident that resulted in another party’s serious property damage, bodily injury, or even death. Lastly, if this is their subsequent DUI offense while still being younger than the legal drinking age.
In these cases, they may face standard DUI charges in addition to underage DUI penalties. On that note, a typical first-offense DUI in the state of New Jersey comes with a driver’s license suspension until an ignition interlock device (IID) is installed in the vehicle, an IID for three months, up to 48 hours in the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, and a $500. Last but not least, there could be a jail sentence of up to 30 days.
If, after reading this blog, you are confident that you must legally defend yourself, your next step should be to contact a talented Morristown criminal defense lawyer. You may rest assured when you work with Graves Andrews, LLC.