Is Your Child Facing DUI Charges?

 Posted on November 10, 2022 in Uncategorized

If your teenager is facing drunk driving charges, the entire family may be feeling the stress and stigma. Even a first DUI offense could be costly and lead to jail time. This one mistake could haunt your teenager for months or years to come. If this sounds familiar, get help from an Illinois criminal defense lawyer who understands that mistakes happen and believes your child deserves a second chance.

Zero Tolerance for Minors Driving Under the Influence

There is a zero-tolerance law in Illinois for anyone under 21 caught drinking and driving. That means if your teenager has any detectable trace of alcohol in their system they could be arrested and charged with violating the Illinois Zero Tolerance law and/or a DUI. Because of this, your underage child may have just obtained their driver’s license and now they could be losing their driving privileges. Worse, their license could be revoked, which is more severe than a license suspension. They might even have to take a driving test again after the minimum waiting period is up. Here is a detailed breakdown of the possible consequences for violating Illinois’ Zero Tolerance law:

First offense

• Driver’s license suspended for three months for a blood alcohol level of more than .00
• Six-month suspension if the driver refused to take a test at the time of the arrest

Second offense

• Driver’s license suspended for one year for a blood alcohol level of more than .00
• Two-year driver’s license suspension if the driver refused to take a test at the time of arrest a second time

A DUI conviction requires a blood alcohol concentration of more than .08, or more than .05 if there is additional evidence of impairment, such as illegal drugs in the driver’s system. DUI convictions have different and more serious penalties, including license revocation for up to 5 years for repeat offenses. Penalties are more severe if your child has additional previous DUIs or if someone is injured or killed.

Aggressive Defense for Teenagers Facing Criminal Charges

Young people often do not understand how alcohol can affect them and they get behind the wheel with no desire to hurt anyone. DUI criminal defense attorney Jack L. Zaremba is a former Will County prosecutor who applies the most effective defense strategies in court and is known to challenge evidence gathered by law enforcement and presented by the prosecution, including:

• Showing that your child had a momentary lapse in judgment
• Examining health conditions that may have led to slurred speech or red eyes
• Fighting to get charges reduced or dismissed to get your teen driving again
• Proving that your teenager may not have been driving the car
• Demonstrating the importance of protecting your child’s future

Contact a Will County DUI Attorney

If your teenager has been arrested and charged with DUI, contact a Will County underage DUI lawyer with extensive knowledge about DUI cases. Call 815-740-4025 to schedule a free consultation. The Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C. will work hard to help you avoid the consequences of a conviction.