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Minors Charged for DUIs as Adults in Fredericksburg

DUI offenses are serious enough when they involve adults, but many people do not realize that the consequences for minors who are charged with DUIs are equally serious. In fact, minors charged for DUIs as adults in Fredericksburg, are subject to the same penalties that adults are upon conviction. That is why if your child has been charged with a DUI offense, it is vital that you get in contact with an accomplished DUI attorney that could work diligently to defend your child’s case. Work with a determined attorney that could fight for a positive outcome for you,

DUI Charges for Minors

It is possible that a minor might have the charge against them raised to an adult charge if it was a third DUI or if there was serious injury or hit and run that occurred simultaneously with the DUI. Whether a minor is charged as an adult will be a determination to be made by the prosecutor of an individual case, but it would be a rare occurrence in any case that does not involve serious felony allegations.

Defense Strategies in DUI Cases Involving Minors

One defense strategy that minors charged for DUIs as adults in Fredericksburg might want to consider is a reduced blood alcohol content DUI on a person’s record rather than a normal DUI. In many cases where an individual is a minor, it is possible to convince the prosecutor that someone who has put in much effort and shown in court that they are not going to repeat this behavior in the future, the lower blood alcohol content could be considered in the statute.

BAC Levels for Minors Versus Adults

Someone who is over the age of 21 will be presumed to be intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol content that is 0.08 or higher. But someone who is under age 21 is not legally permitted to consume alcohol, so they will be in violation of the statute if they are driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.02 or higher. There is no difference in how a blood alcohol level is treated between a minor and an adult, but there is a difference between someone who is under the age of 21 and one who is older than 21.

If a minor incurs an adult DUI, they would be facing the same statutory requirement as an adult facing the same charge. The prosecutor would have to prove the same facts against them that they would have to prove against an adult in a similar situation.

Penalties for Minors Convicted of DUIs

Virginia treats all DUIs the same with regard to penalties. As previously mentioned, minors charged for DUIs as adults in Fredericksburg will face the same penalties as an adult would face. The penalties for a Class One misdemeanor is a fine of up to $500 and up to one year in jail. If convicted on a DUI charge, there is a minimum requirement for a fine as well as the requirement that the individual completes the State Alcohol Safety Action Program and suffer a suspension of a driver’s license for a period of 12 months.

Value of a Fredericksburg DUI Attorney

If your child has been charged with a DUI offense as a minor you should get in touch with a skilled DUI lawyer. It is always a good idea to hire an attorney who has experience working with minors charged for DUIs as adults in Fredericksburg in their local jurisdiction. Your lawyer may have more experience with the local court rules and procedures as well as dealing personally with the prosecutors who likely will be handling those cases. Consult an attorney today and know that you are in capable hands.

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