Panama City Underage DUI Charges
DUI Attorney for Underage Defendants in Panama City, FL
For drivers 21 years or older, the legal limit for blood alcohol content
(BAC) in Florida is 0.08%. For drivers under 21, the legal BAC limit is
.02. A conviction for underage
DUI is a serious matter. The
DUI penalties imposed on underage drivers can include up to 6 months in jail, fines
up to $1000 (not including court costs), vehicle impoundment, community
service, driver's license suspension, and probation.
Another consequence of underage DUI will be increased insurance premiums,
which can go for as long as three years after you have been convicted.
It can put a limit on your employment opportunities. You can also be expelled
from school or face other disciplinary actions from an educational institution.
If you or your minor child has been arrested for DUI, it would be best
to contact a DUI attorney in Panama City for help. You will need a knowledgeable,
proven defense lawyer who knows how to defend DUI charges filed against
underage drivers.
What happens when you are arrested for underage DUI?
When an officer stops due to a suspicion that you are driving under the
influence, he or she can require that you submit to a breath, blood or
urine test to verify if you have been drinking, and how much. If your
tests show you are above the legal limit, you will be arrested and charged.
The officer will take your license, and if you qualify, will issue you
a temporary driver's permit. This permit is only valid for 10 days.
A review hearing should be scheduled within those 10 days. A DUI defense
lawyer can subpoena any witnesses in your favor to testify. He can also
cross-examine other witnesses. During this hearing, your attorney could
also gather information that can be used to defend you in criminal court.
In some cases, it could be possible to gain an extension of the temporary
permit, allowing you to drive during the duration of the criminal case.
A successful hearing could result in a reinstatement of your driver's
license and legal right to operate a vehicle.
If the hearing is not successful in stopping the suspension, or if a hearing
was never scheduled within the time limits, then the Administrative License
Suspension will go into effect. If you were found to have a BAC over the
legal limit of 0.02%, your license will be suspended for 6 months with
30 days of hard suspension. This is for a first offense. For 30 days,
you will not be allowed to drive at all. After that, it's possible you
might be eligible for a hardship license, meaning you might be allowed
to drive to work or school.
If you refused to take the field sobriety test and this is your first underage
DUI, your suspension will be for 1 year instead of 6 months, and there
will be a 90-day period of hard suspension instead of 30 days.
If the testing showed that your BAC was 0.05% or more, you will have to
complete DUI School before your suspension is over. This is a program
that educates offenders about drinking and driving. You will probably
have to submit to a substance abuse evaluation as well as mandated by
the court. If it is your 2nd or more offense, the suspension will be for 12 months, and you will not
be eligible for a "business" or "school" license.
If you refused to submit to the testing, the suspension will be for 18
months rather than 1 year.
Fighting for the Rights of Young Drivers
Don't let your future be jeopardized needlessly. Mr. Shepard, the founding
attorney from Shepard Law in Panama City, is skilled and experienced in
defending DUI cases, and is personally committed to protecting the rights
of young people facing criminal charges.
His success in handling these cases is recognized throughout the legal
community.
Contact us by calling
(850) 215-5200 today for the help you need.