In many cases, you would expect the law to be more lenient with younger people and teenagers, and that is often true. However, a charge of driving under the influence when the driver is younger than 21 in Illinois can come with surprisingly harsh penalties, precisely because authorities want to discourage unsafe driving practices. A skilled Arlington Heights, IL DUI defense attorney will advocate on your behalf in front of a judge and prosecutor, negotiating to have your conviction reduced or dropped.
The Zero Tolerance Law in Illinois
In DUI cases, most drivers have to blow at or above .08% BAC (blood alcohol content) into a breathalyzer to be charged, but not when the driver is under 21. If you are below the legal drinking age and a breathalyzer test finds any traces of alcohol in your system, you face immediate penalties in accordance with the state’s Zero Tolerance law.