Your child has been getting into some trouble lately, but you never expected that it would have anything to do with alcohol. Unfortunately, last night you received a call from the police stating that your child was at the station. They were reportedly impaired by alcohol and had been stopped by an officer after running a red light in town.
As you know, it’s against the law to drive while under the influence of alcohol, and it’s also illegal to drink alcohol when you’re underage. This situation could cause many problems for your child, and you want to do all you can to protect them. So, what’s next?
You need to understand the potential penalties for your child
Your child will be considered to be under the influence at a lower percentage than adults. In Connecticut, the limit for anyone under 21 is .02%. Like with adults, they will be arrested and taken to the police station if they are over that limit. Additionally, their vehicle may be towed by police, and you will need to come to the police station to bail them out.
The first thing you need to do is to understand the potential penalties your child could face because of this issue. If their blood alcohol content (BAC) was over .02% at the time of their arrest, then they will need to use an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) if they want to drive again. They will need to use the IID for a year upon a first offense, two years for a second offense and three years for a third.
It’s also likely that your child will have their license suspended and will face fines for the DUI. All of these potential penalties are why it’s important for you to understand the charges and mount a strong defense.