Under 21 DWI's dismissed; clients avoid mandatory one year license loss.
May 30, 2008 - by Joseph Welsh
In recent months, Joe Welsh has successfully defended two clients, both of whom were under age 21 and charged with DWI.
March, 2008. Attorney Welsh represented a Client charged with under age 21 DWI. The client failed the field sobriety tests and then blew four times the legal limit for someone under age 21. Result: The DWI charge was dismissed. The client pleaded guilty to non-alcohol related charge of negligent driving.
May, 2008. The police came upon a vehicle full of people under the age of 21. Police smelled alcohol and marijuana and found numerous cans of beer in car. Attorney Welsh’s client admitted to drinking beer, had bloodshot glassy eyes, and smelled of marijuana. The client was charged with DWI. Result: DWI charge dropped by the State. Client pleaded guilty to non-alcohol related charge thereby avoiding a mandatory one year license loss, and a DWI conviction.
DWI charges for a person under the age of 21 are much easier for the police to prove, since even trace amounts of alcohol create the presumption that an underage driver is impaired. Additionally, there are more serious penalties for a DWI charge for a person over the age of 21, and a conviction will likely have a significant impact on insurance premiums.
If you have more questions about the consequences for an underage DWI, give us a call.