Back to School – What Every Parent and Student Must Know About Underage Age Drunk Driving (aka Baby DUI/DWI) in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Drunk Driving is a common offense for our law firm in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Recently, both states have made significant changes to the drunk driving laws which in many cases allow first time offender to avoid traditional license suspension where a person simply can’t drive to an ignition interlock device which permits driving with conditions. 

States like New Jersey and Pennsylvania has instituted ignition interlock program.  While these programs do put additional costs on offenders for installation and lease of these interlock devices, most offenders are happy to pay them if it allows them to continue driving to earn a living and or complete daily tasks freely without reliance on others. 

While New Jersey and Pennsylvania are now more flexible on drunk drivers offenders, both states maintain zero tolerance for underage drunk driving.  There are no programs for these offenders.  The underage persons face penalties for nearly any amount of alcohol (.01) found in their system while driving.  They also face the same penalties an adult would face if their BAC is over the .08 legal limit. 

Underage Drunk Driving in Pennsylvania (DUI – Driving Under the Influence)

Pennsylvania has a zero tolerance policy for underage drunk driving.  This means that drivers under 21 face serious consequences if they are convicted of driving with any amount of alcohol in their blood. Here are the penalties

• First offense

A driver may face a 12-month license suspension, a fine of $500–$5,000, 48 hours–6 months in jail, and a year-long requirement to use an ignition interlock device. They may also be required to attend alcohol highway safety school and undergo court-ordered treatment. 

• Subsequent offenses

A driver may face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, and a one-year license suspension. 

Underage Drunk Driving in New Jersey (DWI – Driving While Intoxicated)

New Jersey is very similar to Pennsylvania!  In the Garden State, a person under 21 years old will be charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.01% or higher while driving.   New Jersey’s “Zero Tolerance” law states that any amount of alcohol in the system is over the limit. 

Penalties for an underage DWI can include: 

• License suspension

A judge has the power to suspend the driver’s license for 30 to 90 days. 

Fines

Fines can be thousands of dollars. For example, a second offense can result in a fine of $500–$1,000. 

• Community service

The underage driver may be required to perform 15 to 30 days of community service. 

• Alcohol education

The underage driver may be required to participate in an alcohol and traffic safety education program. 

Other penalties include: 

• Installation of an ignition interlock device 
• Detainment in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center 

What else happens follow a drunk driving conviction in New Jersey and Pennsylvania? 

A drunk driving conviction also has other consequences outside of a criminal record.  These collateral consequences include:   

• Increased car insurance premiums 
• Insurance providers refusing coverage 
• Educational setbacks, such as affecting college admissions decisions 
• Loss of employment opportunities 

If you’re facing an underage drunk driving charge, call our criminal defense law firm today!