Arizona DUI Defense Strategies for Drivers Under 21
For drivers of legal drinking age, DWI is seldom charged unless the adult suspect has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or higher, or unless the suspect shows other signs of obvious intoxication. For younger drivers, however, the presence of any alcohol in the system can expose you to the risk of prosecution and punishment under Arizona's zero-tolerance policy for underage drivers.
If you're facing a DUI or DWI charge and you're under 21, contact The Gillespie Law Firm in Phoenix for a free consultation about your options for resolving the case. Our practice focuses on DUI defense for drivers of all ages, and our experience with cases involving juveniles and 18-to-20-year-olds can give you an advantage toward finding the right approach to your situation.
Finding the Right Defense Strategy for the Facts of Your Case
Our Phoenix underage drinking defense attorneys thoroughly investigate the facts of each case before presenting you with your alternatives. Our lawyers also interview the law enforcement officers and toxicology technicians whose evidence will support the case against you. We then go over the interview transcripts with our own experts to see where gaps or inconsistencies in the evidence can weaken the government's ability to prove the charges.
Our main strategies for defending or compromising underage drunk driving charges aren't much different from what we do for older DUI defendants, but the criminal and civil penalties for drivers under 21 can be much more severe. First of all, your license can be suspended for two years. Next, in addition to the underage DUI offense you can be charged with DWI per se as well if your BAC exceeded .08 percent. Finally, a DUI conviction while you were under 21 can be used later to increase the penalties on a later offense.
Students at Arizona State or other local colleges and universities might find that their eligibility for scholarships, further educational opportunities or entry into licensed professions can be jeopardized by an underage DUI conviction. Our thorough understanding of Arizona criminal law and DUI defense tactics can help you find a way toward a resolution that protects you from the worst possible consequences of an arrest.
Call 888-613-5322 for Advice About Your Arizona DWI Defense Options
Our DUI attorneys' goal in each case is the dismissal or significant reduction of the charges against our client, and our methods have succeeded in hundreds of cases. For a free consultation about our approach to client service in DUI cases involving drivers under 21, contact The Gillespie Law Firm in Phoenix.
