Florida has a zero tolerance law for juveniles accused of driving under the influence. This means that if a law enforcement officer observes even a detectable amount of alcohol on your breath, they are required to act. This means that you could lose your license, along with the other severe penalties that come with a DUI charge.
Due to this hard-line stance, if you have been accused of driving under the influence while under the age of 21, it is important that you speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney who can effectively advise you during this stressful time.
Melbourne Underage DUI Attorney
DUI charges are life-altering, and being charged with causing serious injury while drunk can have devastating consequences up to years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines and license revocation. Move to keep this from happening by working with the experienced and dedicated criminal defense attorneys at Germain Legal.
If you or a loved one have been charged with a DUI you need to contact an experienced DUI defense attorney immediately.
Our office is located in Melbourne, Florida and we proudly serve the surrounding communities of Palm Bay, Titusville, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Cocoa, and Satellite Beach in Brevard County, Vero Beach and Sebastian in Indian River County, Deltona and Dayton Beach in Volusia County, and Kissimmee and Poinciana in Osceola County.
Contact Germain Legal by calling (321) 775-3559 or submit an online form today to start building your defense.
Underage DUI under Florida Law
According to Fla. Stat. §322.2616, it is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 who has a blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level of 0.02 or higher to drive or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.
The statute also goes on to say that a law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that a motor vehicle is being driven by, or is in the actual physical control of, a person who is under the age of 21 while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, may lawfully detain the individual, and may request that person to submit to a test to determine his or her blood-alcohol level.
Florida has a Zero Tolerance law for drivers under 21. This means that any driver under 21 that is stopped by law enforcement and has a blood alcohol level of .02 or higher will automatically have their Florida drivers license suspended for 6 months. Protocol state that the officer shall take the person’s driver’s license and issue the person a 10-day temporary driving permit if the person is otherwise eligible for the driving privilege and shall issue the person a notice of suspension.
If the driver refused to submit to a lawful breath test, his or her driving privilege is suspended for a period of 1 year for a first refusal or for a period of 18 months if his or her driving privilege has been previously suspended.
If the individuals BAC is above the legal limit of .08, and are convicted, the presumptive sentence is up to six months in jail and / or fines of up to $500. This may also involve a monthly reporting probation period, community service, completion of an approved substance abuse education course, revocation of your driver’s license for up to a year and impoundment of the vehicle for 10 days.
Underage DUI Lawyer in Brevard County, Florida
If you or a loved one has been charged with an underage DUI offense, it is vital that you take hold of this difficult situation by consulting with an experienced and capable criminal defense attorney who has the legal understanding to effectively argue your case and allow you to move on with your life.
With the zero tolerance stance that this state takes, having a strong defense will help refute the subjective nature of the arrest and put you or your loved one in a position to move on from this stressful experience.
Our office is located in Melbourne, Florida and we proudly serve the surrounding communities of Palm Bay, Titusville, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Cocoa, and Satellite Beach in Brevard County, Vero Beach and Sebastian in Indian River County, Deltona and Dayton Beach in Volusia County, and Kissimmee and Poinciana in Osceola County.
Contact Germain Legal by calling (321) 775-3559 or submit an online form today to start building your defense.
