As the end of the school year approaches, many teens will be making plans for their summer. More and more teens will be behind the wheel, heading to a friend’s house, to a summer job or maybe a graduation party. While teens may feel like this is an extremely busy time of the year for their social calendars, law enforcement is also gearing up to aggressively target the number of underage drunk drivers on area roads.
Police throughout the Denver area know many of these gatherings may provide teens with an access to alcohol. Teens that drink then get try to drive, which could lead to potentially serious accidents.
The increased attention focused on underage drunk driving is in an effort to reduce the number of injuries and deaths that occur as a result of drunk driving crashes. There are strict DUI rules and punishments in place for underage motorists in Colorado.
Drivers under the age of 21 with a blood-alcohol content .02 or above could be facing a DUI charge. This could mean that an underage driver could be considered intoxicated after one drink. Adults that provide alcohol to minors may be facing charges as well, and may be held responsible for any damages caused by a minor that is driving under the influence.
If convicted, those underage could face severe penalties, including the loss of a driver’s license, as well as high fines. This is in additional to other consequences that may result, including high insurance costs, as well as difficulty in finding employment in certain fields.
It is important to take DUI charges seriously. Each conviction will bring more serious penalties that last long after the case is over. Knowing the options that are available can help you decide how to approach your situation.
Source: Federal Trade Commission “We Don’t Serve Teens”