The Texas criminal justice system takes an unusually harsh stance when it comes to underage crimes. Juvenile DUI cases are no exception.
We know you want to do everything possible to get help for your child and to see them get through this. If your child has been arrested for drunk driving, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Zero Tolerance for Underage Drinking and Driving
In general, drivers who are of age must have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher to be convicted of driving drunk. That is not true for minors.
The Texas zero-tolerance law means any amount of alcohol is enough to support a juvenile DUI conviction. The legal limit for young drivers is 0.00.
Driver Age and BAC Can Affect The Penalties
While zero tolerance is the starting point, there is an additional consideration when it comes to the age of your child and their BAC.
Drivers between 18 and 20 who are pulled over for drinking and driving with a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher face harsher penalties. This could be the difference between facing community service and facing jail time.
What Parents Can Do
Few people would like to be judged by the worst mistakes they made when they were young. Juvenile drinking and driving is a serious issue, but it shouldn’t dictate the rest of your child’s life. There are steps you can take as a parent to make the situation better. Here’s how to start:
- Contact an experienced Texas criminal defense attorney. The attorney can help explain their rights and advocate for them through the legal proceedings.
- Support your child through the stress and uncertainty of the legal process.
- Help your child take accountability for the actions that led to this.
- Seek help, including rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling or other recovery programs.
Obviously, you want your child to learn a lesson and to avoid similar situations in the future. But that does not mean you should let the system run its course. The best result is the one reached with a skilled and dedicated criminal defense attorney.
Related Legal Concerns
There may be legal implications surrounding how your child acquired the alcohol or drugs involved in their underage DUI case. Providing alcohol to someone underage is a serious offense. Depending on the circumstances, prosecutors can seek a substantial fine and up to one year in jail for the party responsible.
Call Lee & Wood for Serious Criminal Defense Representation
Speaking to a defense attorney as soon as possible after an arrest can make a tremendous difference. If your child has been arrested or charged with underage DUI, the time to act is now. Call Lee & Wood at 817-678-6771 or contact us online to get started on a strong defense for your child.