Here are a couple of scary statistics:
- In California, high school students numbering 1 out of 10 admitted to both driving and drinking – together.
- How many have been in the car while a different teen under the influence of alcohol was driving? One in four!
Clearly, provided they get caught, there is no shortage of teen DUI offenses. It’s difficult enough to deal with a San Bernardino DUI as an adult. But there’s more than just a DUI to consider when talking about teenagers. They aren’t supposed to be drinking in the first place. It’s against the law.
What’s being done about the problem of teenage DUIs?
California Teen DUI – Zero-Tolerance
It is illegal, under California law, for anyone to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than 0.08%. For teen drivers, however, the laws are different.
The reason for this is that when it comes to underage drinking and driving, a “zero-tolerance” policy is in place in California. In California, with a 0.01% or higher BAC, it is illegal to drive if you are under the age of 21. What this basically means is that, while someone under the age of 21 is driving, they can have virtually no alcohol in their system.
Teen DUI Penalties
If you’re 21 or older, and you receive a first time DUI, the following may happen:
- Fine of up to $2000
- Up to six months in jail
- For up to one year, suspension of your driver’s license months
- Mandatory alcohol education program
If you are convicted of underage DUI, for up to one year, your driver’s license can be suspended. What’s more, they will suspend your ability to get a license for one year if you didn’t have a license at the time of your DUI.
For anyone under the age of 21, it’s a separate crime to operate a vehicle with a 0.05% BAC or more. The possible penalties for this would include the following:
- Mandatory attendance or enrollments in an alcohol education program (over the age of 18). The program must last at least three months.
- $100 fine
- Driver’s license suspension for one year
If you are a minor in California, and you are caught possessing alcohol, for one year your driver’s license will be suspended if convicted. For 30 days, your vehicle could be impounded (at your cost), and you may receive a fine of up to $1000.
Need DUI Classes? Count on Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group, Inc.
For multiple DUI offenders and first offenders, at Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group, education programs for a San Bernardino DUI involve mentoring, counseling, and classes. Since 1981, we have served Riverside, San Bernardino, and other nearby counties. We look after not only our clients’ needs but those of the community.
Contact us if you would like to receive more information about classes or how to enroll. We have offices in Barstow, Victorville, and the Redlands. Our online forms will provide you with a list of and access to various forms available.
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