Growing up isn’t easy. It’s natural for young people to test boundaries and make mistakes. Unfortunately, certain mistakes can haunt them for a very long time. In Texas, there is a zero-tolerance law against people below age 21 driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). A violation can result in a criminal conviction as well as a license suspension. At The Law Offices of Kevin L. Collins, P.C., you’ll get determined representation from a board-certified criminal defense attorney with more than 30 years of experience.
In Texas, driving while intoxicated (DWI) can be charged when a driver’s blood alcohol content is above 0.08 percent or when a driver’s mental or physical faculties are obviously impaired. But for drivers under the age of 21, who cannot legally consume alcohol, any detectable amount of alcohol in their systems can support a charge of DUI, even if they are not actually intoxicated.
The penalties for DUI depend on the driver’s age:
In addition to DUI, minors can be charged with DWI if they meet the law’s BAC or impairment standards.
Texas also has an implied consent law, which means that youths arrested for DUI must agree to breath, blood or urine testing. If a youth refuses to take one of these tests, he or she faces a mandatory administrative license suspension of 180 days. A second refusal results in a suspension of two years. The youth can also be kept in custody until an appearance before a juvenile court judge.
A misdemeanor conviction creates a permanent record that can severely hamper future educational and career opportunities. License suspensions alone can cause hardship for youths who are working or pursuing an education. As your advocate, Kevin L. Collins challenges the evidence and the police procedure that led to the arrest. He works tirelessly to have charges reduced or dismissed and to seek lenient sentences whenever possible.
The Law Offices of Kevin L. Collins, P.C. in San Antonio provides aggressive defense representation for youths accused of DWI and DUI. To schedule a consultation, call us at 210-598-8629 or contact us online. We are conveniently located at the IBC Centre, 130 East Travis Street, easily accessible from I-35 and I-37.