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Teen DUI Texas TX

Reader’s Question:

I have been driving for a long time. I got some tickets here is Texas but I have never been charged with a graver offense such as DUI/DWI. This saddens me because my 16-year old son just got his license a month ago and already got a DUI charge a week ago. What consequences does my son might be facing?

Jeff

El Paso , TX

A DUI charge is a classified as a class “C” misdemeanor. That means that the driver can not receive jail time and will be paying a maximum fine of $500 for a first offense (for subsequent offenses, the offender can receive significant jail time). Along with this fine can be a probation, community service and alcohol awareness classes. Also, the Texas Department of Public Safety will issue a notice of suspension and try to suspend the minor’s driver’s license in the majority of these cases. The suspension of the license is the same license revocation (ALR) process that is used in adult cases.

The State of Texas has been long known as a “zero tolerance” state. This means that a minor (under 21 years old) is not permitted to consume any alcohol and drive a vehicle. If the arresting officer testifies that he/she smelled an alcoholic beverage on a minor’s breath during a traffic stop, then the minor will be cited for DUI. This applies even if the officer feels the minor is both below the .08 legal limit and has not lost the normal use of his/her mental facilities, but has consumed any alcohol. Make sure that your son’s case will not be mishandled because it can have terrible long-term effects on the minor’s criminal record and lengthy driver’s license suspensions. It is very important that these cases are taken seriously.