August 1, 2024
The legal drinking age is 21 in most jurisdictions. Young drivers under this age can be charged with a DWI or DUI if found operating a car with any amount of alcohol in their system. New Jersey has a zero-tolerance policy that holds underage drivers to a higher legal standard for DUI offenses.
The consequences of a DWI conviction for young drivers can be devastating, given that a sentence affects them legally and also has collateral consequences. Consult a skilled New Jersey DWI lawyer if you’re a young driver facing DWI or DUI charges. They can assess your case and help you create a strong defense strategy to beat the charges.
A DWI conviction attorney in New Jersey says that the laws in New Jersey frown heavily upon drivers who drink and drive, whether the driver is of age or underage. The penalties for a DUI with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of between 0.01% and 0.08% (Baby DUI) are not as harsh as those involving a BAC above the legal limit.
However, they can still have lasting consequences that can profoundly affect your life:
An underage DUI can lead to a 30-—to 90-day suspension of your driver’s license. If you have a probationary driver’s license, you must also complete a four-hour remedial driving course, and the license’s probationary period will be extended for one more year.
If you have a learner’s permit, the court will require you to complete a four-hour class. Depending on the case specifics, the license can be suspended for an additional 90 days. Other consequences of a Baby DUI are:
If your BAC is above 0.08%, you will be at risk of even graver penalties, including an extended period of license suspension, heftier fines, and, in extreme cases, jail time, which can dramatically affect your life and future. These penalties are a pointer to the seriousness with which New Jersey views underage drinking and driving.
In addition to the direct legal penalties, you risk more consequences that could adversely affect your academic and professional life:
Educational institutions have high standards for their students academically and ethically. A DWI conviction can harm your reputation, and your school could decide to take disciplinary action. It could require you to attend and complete several counseling sessions.
Depending on the severity of the crime, the school could also suspend you, revoke your scholarship, or expel you, actions that could jeopardize your academic future. You can avoid such harsh consequences by hiring a skilled New Jersey DWI conviction lawyer to defend you against the charges.
A DWI conviction as a juvenile can have a ripple effect extending to your employment prospects later in life. Some juvenile records are often sealed, but some jobs require full disclosure of past legal infractions. You may have a hard time getting employment in the following types of professions:
There will likely be things you want to do in life, but they might never happen because of the DUI conviction on your record. The best way to avoid a conviction is not to drink and drive, and the second best way is to hire an aggressive DWI conviction lawyer to defend you against the charges if you find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
A DUI conviction can have a negative outcome on your international travel. For example, you’ll be barred from entering Canada with a DUI record. Most countries will also bar you if the DUI charges comprised a felony that resulted in jail time.
A DUI conviction can cause tension between you and your family members due to the financial burden associated with the harsh penalties.
The sentence may also come with erosion of trust, mainly because your parents or other family members expected you to be a responsible young driver.
New Jersey DUI laws have no provisions for expunging a DUI/DWI conviction. That’s because record expungement is limited to criminal offenses, and a DUI/DWI is considered a traffic offense, not a criminal one.
The only way to attempt to remove a DWI/DUI conviction from your record is through Post Conviction Relief. Your DWI conviction attorney in New Jersey can provide an overview of the process, check your eligibility, and provide legal representation to navigate it successfully.
A DWI conviction can have untold effects on a young driver’s life. The harsh legal and collateral consequences point to the need for legal guidance from an experienced New Jersey DW lawyer when facing charges. A legal expert with experience in the field can fight to have the charges dismissed or penalties reduced.
The Hernandez Law Firm, PC, has a dedicated DWI conviction lawyer in New Jersey to help you through this difficult time. Our legal team can extend its legal support to help you understand and navigate the repercussions of a conviction. Together, we can create a solid defense strategy to protect your rights and future. Call us at 723-582-5076 to schedule a FREE consultation.
(732) 582-5076
