If you are under the age of 21 and you are facing charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, you’re essentially being accused of two crimes. First, you are being accused of consuming alcohol underage, and second, you are being accused of operating a vehicle under the influence.
Being convicted of a drunk driving charge could have severe consequences for your future. It may even prevent you from going to college, getting a job, or being able to travel to a job that you do have because of license suspension. Therefore, you need to investigate the options you have for defending yourself — particularly when the charges aren’t warranted.
Questioning the probable cause for the stop
A police officer must have a good cause to pull over a driver. Essentially, they must have a reason to believe that you were somehow violating the law. If the police officer had no good reason to pull you over, you may be able to have charges dismissed.
Looking at health conditions that can skew the test
There are zero-tolerance laws for drivers under the age of 21 when it comes to driving under the influence. Therefore, even if the Breathalyzer says you have a small amount of alcohol in your system, you could be charged with a DUI. You may be able to argue that a health condition or a recent dentist’s visit caused a slight rise in the alcohol content of your breath.
If you have been accused of an underage DUI, you should take action quickly to aggressively defend yourself and prevent any long-term consequences.