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The article has been updated successfully but requires approval before it is published.What happens if I am younger than 21 when I got a DUI offense?
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Being charged with a DUI offense carries big penalties, especially if you're a relatively new driver under the age of 21. Besides receiving a suspended license you could, depending on your state and your blood alcohol count (BAC), face steeper DUI or DWI repercussions including jail time, stiff fines, community service and mandatory enrollment in an alcohol abuse program.
Due to the severity of drunk driving penalties, you should consider hiring a DUI lawyer to help negotiate through your state's tough DUI laws. A DUI lawyer can help reduce your sentencing, saving you time and long-term hardships.
Depending on your state, your DUI conviction could remain permanently on your driving record, causing long lasting impact on your insurance premiums. Plus, the site of a DUI on your driving record could influence a potential employer to think twice about hiring you. This is why it's so important to have a DUI lawyer go to bat for you in trying to reduce your DUI sentence.
The grid reflects state-by-state penalties for first-time offenders under 21.
| Supension | Jail | Fines | Alcohol Program | Community Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | x | x | x | Drivers 18 or under must attend a DUI/Substance Abuse Court Referral Program. | ||
| Alaska | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Arizona | x | x | You must pay for and install an ignition interlock device. | |||
| Arkansas | x | x | x | x | ||
| California | x | x | ||||
| Colorado | x | x | x | x | You may be ordered to enroll in an alcohol abuse program, depending on your BAC. | |
| Connecticut | x | x | x | x | Jail time could be replaced by 100 hours of community service. | |
| Delaware | x | x | x | x | ||
| Florida | x | x | x | |||
| Georgia | x | x | x | |||
| Hawaii | x | x | x | x | ||
| Idaho | x | x | x | |||
| Illinois | x | x | x | x | ||
| Indiana | x | x | x | x | Instead of prison you may instead serve 180 hours of community service. | |
| Iowa | x | x | An ignition interlock device will be installed if your BAC topped .10. | |||
| Kansas | x | x | x | Instead of jail you be ordered to perform 100 hours of community service at the discretion of the court. | ||
| Kentucky | x | x | x | Instead of fines you may be ordered to perform 30 hours of community labor. You will be subjected to harsher penalties with a BAC of .08 or higher. | ||
| Louisiana | x | x | x | |||
| Maine | x | x | ||||
| Maryland | x | x | May face jail time if the offense occurs while transporting a minor. | |||
| Massachusetts | x | x | x | |||
| Michigan | x | x | x | |||
| Minnesota | x | x | x | |||
| Mississippi | x | x | x | You may also have to attend a panel for Victim Impact. | ||
| Missouri | x | x | x | For reinstatement you must provide proof of attending a Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program (SATOP). | ||
| Montana | x | x | x | |||
| Nebraska | x | x | x | Higher penalties for a higher BAC. | ||
| Nevada | x | x | x | x | x | Instead of jail you may be ordered to 96 hours of community service. |
| New Hampshire | x | x | x | |||
| New Jersey | x | x | x | x | ||
| New Mexico | x | x | x | |||
| New York | x | x | Must submit to alcohol evaluation prior to sentencing. | |||
| North Carolina | x | x | x | Must submit to a substance abuse assessment prior to license reinstatement. | ||
| North Dakota | x | x | Stiffer penalties if your BAC is .08 or higher. | |||
| Ohio | x | x | x | |||
| Oklahoma | x | x | x | |||
| Oregon | x | x | x | Drivers under 18 will be tried in juvenile court. | ||
| Pennsylvania | x | x | x | Possible jail time for excessive BAC. | ||
| Rhode Island | x | x | x | x | ||
| South Carolina | x | x | x | |||
| South Dakota | x | x | x | |||
| Tennessee | x | x | x | |||
| Texas | x | x | x | x | ||
| Utah | x | x | x | x | x | Community service may be substituted for jail time. |
| Vermont | x | x | x | x | ||
| Virginia | x | x | x | |||
| Washington | x | x | You may face possible jail time if your BAC hits .08 or higher. | |||
| West Virginia | x | x | ||||
| Wisconsin | x | x | x | |||
| Wyoming | x | x | ||||
| Washington DC | x | x |
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