Charlotte Underage DUI Attorney

Underage DWI Laws in North Carolina

If you are under the age of the legal limit or are the parent of a minor who is charged with any drug- or alcohol-related crime, the attorneys at Jetton & Meredith can help you try to resolve your case favorably and possibly erase the criminal record.* Our Charlotte underage DUI lawyers have represented countless students who have attended many different high schools and colleges in North Carolina. We understand that young people make mistakes and that they are sometimes in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Our goal is to help young people learn from these mistakes while helping them minimize the consequences that could hurt their futures. You don’t want a criminal record to follow you around your entire life, damage your reputation, and cost you employment opportunities.

North Carolina "Zero Tolerance" Policy

North Carolina follows a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to underage drinking and driving. This means that if one is under age 21, he or she cannot drive after consuming any amount of alcohol. It does not matter how much a person has had to drink or what he or she is doing. If any alcohol has been consumed, this is illegal.

Penalties for Underage DWI in North Carolina

Consuming alcohol, experimenting with illegal drugs, and engaging in other reckless behavior puts young individuals at risk of physical harm and subjects them to legal consequences as well. In North Carolina, any measurable alcohol in the system is considered a drunk driving charge.

The penalties can include the following:

• License suspension (30 days pretrial and up to a year after)
• Fines
• Court costs
• Community service

If a motorist is not of the legal drinking age and an officer detects the use of alcohol on the driver, the person could immediately lose his or her driver’s license for a month. Moreover, there is usually a $100 fine for one’s license reinstatement. If an alcohol screening test reads above 0.00 in a routine traffic stop, this is deemed sufficient evidence to convict. Also, if the odor of alcohol is present and the person refuses to take an alcohol screening test, this is still sufficient evidence for a guilty verdict. Refusal to take a chemical analysis will result in an automatic 12-month license suspension.

According to NCDOT.gov, when a person under the age of 19 and consumes alcohol, this will be considered a Class 1 Misdemeanor. The punishment for this crime can include a fine, community service and a $250 fee. In some situations, offenders are placed behind bars. All of this does not include the court costs, which can be approximately $180. If the offender is a bit older- 19 or 20 – this is considered a Class 3 Misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $200, community service, a $250 fee or jail time. This does not include court costs.

When facing criminal charges, it can feel easier to just pay the fine. However, when you do this, you are admitting guilt and will have a criminal record. Depending on the circumstances of the case, it may be possible to have charges reduced to a non-alcohol offense or have them dismissed completely.*

Underage Drinking Defense in North Carolina

If you are facing underage DUI charges, it is important to understand the law and how it may apply to you. The Charlotte underage DUI attorneys at Jetton & Meredith welcome the opportunity to assist you and help you understand the charges you are facing. We can guide you throughout the legal process and help you make well-informed decisions about the future. You can trust us to be your advocate when you need criminal defense.