Dignity, Respect
& Justice

What to know about underage DUI in Maryland

On Behalf of | Dec 14, 2022 | Drunk Driving |

Driving under the influence of alcohol is never a good idea regardless of how old you are. However, doing so may be even more dangerous for younger drivers as they may be more vulnerable to the negative impacts of alcohol on your mind and body. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take as a parent to help your teen refrain from driving while impaired.

How alcohol impacts a driver

Alcohol works to lower a person’s inhibitions, which may increase the chances that a motorist will take risks while behind the wheel. As teens are already known for being impulsive, they may be more likely than others to take actions while impaired that could result in a car crash. Younger drivers also lack the experience to understand how liquor, beer or wine impact their ability to make decisions. Therefore, they may not even know that they are drunk before getting behind the wheel.

Prevent impaired driving

Keeping your child from driving while impaired may be as simple as talking to your son or daughter about the consequences of doing so. A teen may be charged with DUI for having a blood alcohol level of .02%. A conviction for DUI may result in losing access to financial aid or difficulty finding employment. You may also want to talk about the guilt that your teen will likely feel if a drunk driving accident resulted in the death of a friend or family member.

A teen driver who is convicted of DUI may face a number of consequences including jail time, a fine and the loss of driving privileges for several years. It may be possible to have such a charge dropped or reduced by casting doubt on the evidence used to initiate legal proceedings.