Oakland County Underage DUI Lawyer Paul J. Tafelski Explains the Penalties and Consequences for Underage Drunk Driving

Oakland County underage DUI lawyer Paul J. Tafelski releases a new article (https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/mi-owi-dui-lawyer/underage-drunk-driving-attorney/) explaining the penalties and consequences for underage drunk driving. The lawyer mentions that an underage driver’s future opportunities can be affected by a DUI conviction. This is why it is important to seek the help of an experienced attorney right away if a minor is facing DUI charges.

“It is illegal for you to consume any alcohol in Michigan if you are under age 21. You can be arrested for operating while intoxicated if you are under age 21 and drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .02% – .07%. There is a zero-tolerance law for underage drivers in Michigan. If, for example, you are a college freshman who is driving home after drinking at a kegger, and you are pulled over, you could face DUI charges,” says the Oakland County underage DUI lawyer.

The lawyer explains that it is important for a person to know that an underage DUI conviction can be marked as a misdemeanor on a criminal record. This means that if a person is convicted of a zero-tolerance violation at 19 years old and then a regular OWI at 24, they will be charged as a second offender.

Attorney Paul J. Tafelski adds that the penalties for a second offense is mandatory revocation of a person’s driving privilege and they can also face jail time for up to one year. Similar to an adult DUI, the police will go through procedures such as field sobriety tests before a preliminary breath test.

In the article, the lawyer says that an underage defendant can be sentenced with up to 360 hours of community service and a $250 fine. The defendant can also face a maximum of 93 days of incarceration, 60 days of community service, and a $500 fine if they are charged with OWI instead of zero tolerance.

According to attorney Tafelski, “The court has discretion over increasing penalties for an underage DUI conviction. The difficult thing about underage DUIs is that you could face adult charges, in which case you would also face the penalties that adults face. Although it is extremely rare that the court would require an underage driver to be incarcerated, it is not completely outside the realm of possibility.”

Lastly, attorney Paul Tafelski emphasizes the importance of having a skilled lawyer when facing charges of underage DUI. Having an experienced attorney may be able to help the defendant understand their rights and protect their freedom.

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Paul J Tafelski, Michigan Defense Law | Criminal Attorney and DUI Lawyer

2525 S Telegraph Rd suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, United States

(248) 451-2200