Getting A DUI Under The Legal Drinking Age

Driving under the influence of alcohol is against the law. There are harsh ramifications for adults and especially for those convicted of DUI under the legal drinking age.  As a general rule, each state has their own laws that apply, but the basic concept involves additional and severe penalties for the underage drivers. For instance, if an underage driver is caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their case is handled by both the DMV and criminal court. This means that both of these government departments will be included in the punishment phase and the youth can receive additional penalties and fines from each area. 

Based on the severity of the infraction, the DMV may order the underage drinker to take DUI classes for drug and alcohol education and for retribution.  The underage driver must comply or they will lose their license along with a plethora of other severe penalties. Taking a class in a traditional classroom setting can be extremely inconvenient as the young adult might need to miss school or work to attend them.  This leads to the potential of missing important information in school, possibly tests, and the embarrassment that friends will find out about the legal infraction.  Or, missing work to leave for a class across town can cause stress with bosses. 

                                                 
One alternative to missing tests, assignments, work and the overall public embarrassment is by taking online DUI classes in order to fulfill the requirements of the court. Prior to signing up, each underage driver will have to verify if these classes will meet the requirements of the court in their jurisdiction. If the court does accept the classes, the individual can take them in the privacy of their own home, when it is more convenient for their schedules at any time of the day or night.  A certificate of completion is awarded at the end of the class to prove to the court that the mandate was successfully fulfilled. 

In addition to mandated DUI classes, the underage driver may have their license suspended for a specific period of time. For instance, in the state of California, the court may revoke the underage driver's license for more than one year, since the court order may extend to their 18th birthday. The timing for the suspension is based on the infraction and the court.

Another major obstacle that a young adult who drinks and drives should consider is that when an underage driver is convicted, this information must be listed on all future job and college applications. Hence, it can affect future job offers and admittance into preferred colleges, since the professionals that review these applications are normally looking for individuals who not only excel academically, but also factors that indicate the person is responsible and possess good judgment. This is one of the main reasons why many workplaces order background checks prior to hiring a new employee.  With an underage DUI on your record, it can give the employer and the college recruiter an impression of irresponsibility and potential trouble.  The bottom line is that getting a DUI will create havoc on your life for quite some time.  Think twice before getting behind the wheel after consuming drugs or alcohol!