Consequences of Under Age Drinking in San Diego

There is a zero tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving in San Diego. A person under the age of 21 cannot legally drive if they have a Blood Alcohol Content BAC of 0.01% or higher, as opposed to the 0.08% limit for adults. Those under the age of 21 must also submit to field sobriety tests, including the roadside breathalyzer test, PAS, if instructed to do so by a San Diego police officer who suspects them of having any alcohol whatsoever in their system.

The drivers license suspension period for someone under the age of 21 who has a BAC of 0.01% or higher can be 1 year even if it is their first offense, making the suspension penalties much harsher than for adults who may have a higher BAC. It is especially important to retain the services of an experienced San Diego DUI lawyer in an under age DUI case.

If the person under the age of 21 has a BAC of over 0.01% but under 0.05% the offense will usually be charged as a civil violation but if their BAC is over 0.08% they will be charged with a criminal offense.

A driver convicted of DUI with a BAC of 0.01% or more, who is under 18 years of age, will lose their drivers license for 1 year or until they reach the age of 18, whichever is greater. And minors who are between the ages of 13-20 who are convicted of any alcohol related offense will have their driving privileges delayed for one year, even if the offense was not driving related.