Savannah DUI Lawyer

Underage DUI Charges in Savannah

Any individual who knowingly gets behind the wheel after they've been drinking is putting not only themselves, but others at risk as well. Because of that fact, driving under the influence (DUI) is considered a serious criminal offense. Any person suspected of drunk driving can be pulled over by law enforcement officials and be subject to field sobriety tests as well as breath & blood tests. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results are above the legal limit, you can and will be arrested, and charged with a DUI.

Drivers under the age of 21 found to have a BAC of .02% or higher will be arrested and charged with DUI. If an underage DUI driver falls into one of the following categories they will be looking at a 6-month license suspension with no option or provision for a limited driving permit:

The driver has submitted to a legally administered chemical substance test and results show a BAC of at least .02%, but less than .08%,
No blood, breath or urine test was requested, or
The tests results were suppressed by the court.

If a driver under the age of 21 is convicted of a first-time DUI offense and their chemical substance test showed a BAC of .08% or more, or they refused to take a breath or blood test, the underage driver will receive a 12-month license suspension. Additional penalties for underage DUI convictions in the state of Georgia include:

A $300-$1000 fine,
10 days to 12 months in jail (however no less than 24 hours, providing the rest of the jail sentence is suspended by a judge),
One year probation minus any jail time served,
40 hours community service, and
Completion of the drug and alcohol Risk Reduction Program.

Underage DUI convictions can weigh heavily on a person's permanent driving record. They could even cause you future problems when applying for jobs or seeking to obtain credit. That is why, if you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with an underage DUI, you must contact a Savannah DUI lawyer as soon as possible.

DUI Defense Attorney for Underage DUI

Acquiring proper legal representation is essential, especially in the criminal justice system. Being arrested for or charged with an underage DUI can be an extremely frightening and unnerving experience. Even if when you don't admit either guilt or innocence, you are considered to have entered a Nolo Contendere plea, thus allowing the court to consider you guilty for the purposing of sentencing.

Although you may believe the prosecutor has sufficient evidence to convict you, sobriety, breath and blood tests are not always 100% accurate. Incorrectly calibrated units and other factors can impact test results, and in some cases, present false readings. That is why you need the knowledgeable and experienced legal professionals from the firm representing you. The attorneys at the firm have been educated in all aspects of criminal defense and are there to take the time to address and fully resolve your individual legal needs. No case is too minor or too complex for them to handle.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for or charged with an underage DUI, contact a Savannah DUI attorney at The Schneider Law Firm immediately so they can aggressively work to protect your rights.