If you are operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI) and you are stopped by a Columbus police officer, you may be asked to perform a field sobriety test. Field sobriety tests have been used for years by police officers nationwide to help determine if drivers are intoxicated. While it is legal to refuse to submit to a Columbus field sobriety test, it may not stop drivers from being arrested and charged with an OVI. Field sobriety test results may or may not be used in court as evidence of a driver’s sobriety, but they are an invaluable tool used by Columbus law enforcement to help determine if a driver has the balance and coordination to operate a motor vehicle.

Field sobriety test were standardized in the late 1970s by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A Columbus field sobriety test includes three basic tests: the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk and turn and the one leg stand. The results of the field sobriety test may not always be accurate or conclusive especially if the Columbus driver is over the age of 65, physically or mentally impaired or more than 50 pounds over-weight. Many Columbus drivers may have trouble completing the Columbus field sobriety test even if they are completely sober.

Columbus police officers gather evidence of a driver’s intoxication before, after and during a traffic stop. Columbus drivers who are weaving, swerving or driving too fast or slowly may be intoxicated. Columbus police officers also examine the physical characteristics of a driver. Is the driver stumbling? Do they have blurry or blood-shot eyes? This could mean they are DUI or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Columbus drivers who have failed a Columbus field sobriety test should contact a Columbus DUI lawyer as soon as possible. A Columbus OVI conviction is not like other moving traffic violations. Columbus drivers can face a variety of serious penalties and fines which can have lasting consequences.

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus – Columbus police officers use the horizontal gaze nystagmus test or HGN to measure the nystagmus or the movement of the driver’s eye as a light or pen is moved in front of the driver’s face. Alcohol or drug intoxication has been scientifically proven to impact the ability of the brain to control the eye muscles. If the Columbus driver is unable to track the light in a coordinated motion, with out jerking or erratic eye movement, they could be intoxicated. They also may have a neurological disease or congenital eye defect.
• Walk and turn – Columbus officers may also have a driver perform the walk and turn test. The Columbus driver must stand with their hands to their side and walk 9 steps forward, turn and walk back. Drivers who are unable to walk the line with out moving their arms, falling or swaying may be intoxication.
• One leg stand – The Columbus police officer may also have the driver complete the one leg stand. Columbus drivers are asked to stand straight, put their arms to their sides and hold their leg approximately 6 inches from the ground. Either the driver or the field officer will count aloud for about 30 seconds. The driver should be able to stand straight with out falling, lowering their leg or raising their arms. Unfortunately, this test may be difficult for certain drivers who do not have good coordination or balance or who are not physically fit.
• Finger to the nose – Columbus police officers may have additional non-standardized tests they can use to identify an intoxicated driver. Counting backwards, reciting the alphabet and the finger to the nose test may also be used. Can the driver lean their head back, close their eyes and touch their nose? If not, they could be intoxicated.

Hiring a Columbus DUI lawyer

Columbus drivers who have failed a field sobriety test in Columbus, Ohio, should contact a DUI lawyer. Field sobriety test are an important tool for the Columbus police department, but they can be inaccurate if they are done improperly. Unfortunately, even positive test results can lead to inaccurate conclusions about a driver’s sobriety.

Drivers who refuse to submit to a field sobriety test in Columbus may be asked to take a chemical test (blood, breath, urine) to test their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Columbus drivers, under Columbus Implied Consent Laws, have agreed to submit to these tests in order to drive in Ohio. Drivers who fail this test or who refuse to take this test can face a license suspension of up to 1 year.

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It is illegal in most states for minors to be partaking of alcohol, marijuana, and other controlled substances, and to drive while doing so puts them in double jeopardy. Yet, teenagers are doing so at alarming regularity. Some studies show that 70 percent of teenagers drink alcohol, and 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related. So, why do teenagers drink and then drive?

The answer varies, but I am sure the reason why most teenagers drink and then drive has not really changed all that much since I was a teenager some 45 years ago.

I can remember like it was just yesterday. I was home from my first semester in college, and I met my older brother in the bigger city at a nightclub some 30 miles from where I grew up. Many of our friends from our small hometown were there including Chris and Vance, who, like me, were underage. My brother was one of the few in our group who was of age.  Even in those days when we had no computer at home, we all had learned the art of faking our identification. Being 19, it was fun to be able to go to a nightclub, drink, dance, and meet new girls. After all, it was simply just socializing, something we had seen our parents do all our young lives.

Of course, the night must always come to an end, and just as sure as the sun was going to come up the next morning, we were still 30 miles from home. Having consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol, we each mounted our trusty vehicles and drove back home. My brother and I left a little earlier than our friends, something to do with the next morning. By the grace of God, I like to think, we made it back safely to our cozy beds our Mom had so lovingly made for us. Vance and Chris were not so lucky.

Driving a 1965 Ford Mustang, the cops estimated they were doing 105 mph when they hit the curve just four miles from their own safe and cozy bed. The curve was sharp and had multiple telephone poles sunk into the ground with a one inch steel cable passing through them acting as a guard rail. Four of the poles were no match for the mass of the Mustang’s steel as it tumbled and rolled, snapping the poles like breaking tooth picks. Both Chris and Vance, not wearing seat belts, were thrown from the vehicle.

Vance was killed instantly when he landed directly on his neck breaking it in multiple places, and Chris died in the hospital earlier that morning having lost his lower jaw, they later said, when the Mustang rolled over him. Was this just another case of a teenage alcohol related accident? Being a small town, there was never a need to publicly humiliate the parents by announcing the blood alcohol content of the boys, but my brother and I, who had partied the previous night with Chris and Vance,  knew the real truth. The local police never asked us about where we were that fatal night, but the memories still haunt me to this day.

We all have to get from one place to the next, and socializing is in our nature. Before you consider drinking and driving in New York, please know that regardless of whether or not you are a teenager, a first time DUI conviction can cost you up to a $1000 fine, up to one year in jail, a driver’s license suspension for six months, a mandatory conviction surcharge, being ordered for alcohol screening and evaluation prior to sentencing, and the knowledge a conviction goes on a permanent criminal record that is public information.

If you are a teenager or have a teenager that has recently been accused of a DUI in Albany, Schenectady, or Troy, New York, you are going to need professional help. Contact us right now and we will help you find a traffic attorney in your area who is not only understanding of the laws affecting teenage drunk driving, but they remember and understand what it was like when they were a teenager. They were once young, but they grew up, and now, they want to help you.

Ready to get Help?

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form and a DUI Lawyer will review your case for Free!

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Technically, DUI means driving under the influence of some type drug. That can mean alcohol, prescriptions, or illegal drugs. DWI means simply driving while intoxicated, and in many states, refers to the use of alcohol. The use of the terms can be interchangeable but DWI usually refers more to the severity the drug has metabolized within the offending person’s body. According to Hawaii’s Vehicle Code §291E-1, “under the influence of alcohol ” means an amount of alcohol sufficient to impair the person’s normal mental faculties or ability to care for the person and guard against casualty. Here, the word “impair” comes into play, and is often associated with the terms “intoxicated” and “influence. For practical purposes, all three terms are interchangeable.

Convicted first time offenders of a DUI in Hawaii can receive jail time, a stiff fine, and license suspension.

Excerpts from a news article entitled “Arrests Up for Hawaii DUI in Honolulu” and posted on January 20, 2009 on the dui.com website, reads: “The Honolulu Police Department has released figures showing an increase in the number of arrests for driving under the influence in Hawaii. Nearly 400 more motorists were charged with suspicion of DUI in Honolulu in 2008 than the previous year. That continues an eight year trend reflective of increased law enforcement efforts.” Whatever term you refer to drinking and driving or drunk driving, states are clamping down on these type traffic violations. When you face these kinds of charges, it is no time to handle your case all by yourself. You need an attorney who specializes in such cases. Contact DUIAttorneyHome.com to help you get in contact with a traffic lawyer who can help you understand the subtle differences in the legal jargon of Hawaii law, and who specializes in representing YOUR best interests.

Ready to get Help?

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form and a DUI Lawyer will review your case for Free!

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It is illegal in most states for minors to be partaking of alcohol, marijuana, and other controlled substances, and to drive while doing so puts them in double jeopardy. Yet, teenagers are doing so at alarming regularity. Some studies show that 70 percent of teenagers drink alcohol, and 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related. So, why do teenagers drink and then drive?

The answer varies, but I am sure the reason why most teenagers drink and then drive has not really changed all that much since I was a teenager some 45 years ago. I can remember like it was just yesterday. I was home from my first semester in college, and I met my older brother in the bigger city at a nightclub some 30 miles from where I grew up. Many of our friends from our small hometown were there including Chris and Vance, who, like me, were underage. My brother was one of the few in our group who was of age. Even in those days when we had no computer at home, we all had learned the art of faking our identification. Being 19, it was fun to be able to go to a nightclub, drink, dance, and meet new girls. After all, it was simply just socializing, something we had seen our parents do all our young lives.

Of course, the night must always come to an end, and just as sure as the sun was going to come up the next morning, we were still 30 miles from home. Having consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol, we each mounted our trusty vehicles and drove back home. My brother and I left a little earlier than our friends, something to do with the next morning. By the grace of God, I like to think, we made it back safely to our cozy beds our Mom had so lovingly made for us. Vance and Chris were not so lucky.

Driving a 1965 Ford Mustang, the cops estimated they were doing 105 mph when they hit the curve just four miles from their own safe and cozy bed. The curve was sharp and had multiple telephone poles sunk into the ground with a one inch steel cable passing through them acting as a guard rail. Four of the poles were no match for the mass of the Mustang’s steel as it tumbled and rolled, snapping the poles like breaking tooth picks. Both Chris and Vance, not wearing seat belts, were thrown from the vehicle. Vance was killed instantly when he landed directly on his neck breaking it in multiple places, and Chris died in the hospital earlier that morning having lost his lower jaw, they later said, when the Mustang rolled over him. Was this just another case of a teenage alcohol related accident? Being a small town, there was never a need to publicly humiliate the parents by announcing the blood alcohol content of the boys, but my brother and I, who had partied the previous night with Chris and Vance, knew the real truth. The local police never asked us about where we were that fatal night, but the memories still haunt me to this day.

We all have to get from one place to the next, and socializing is in our nature. Before you consider drinking and driving in Alabama, please know that regardless of whether or not you are a teenager, a first time DUI conviction can cost you up to one year in jail, up to a $2100 fine, and a license suspension for 90 days. On top of that, the conviction goes on your driving record permanently.

If you are a teenager or have a teenager that has recently been accused of a DUI in Mobile, Alabama, you are going to need professional help. Contact us right now at DUIAttorneyHome.com , and we will help you find the professional in your area who is not only understanding of the laws affecting teenage drunk driving, but they remember and understand what it was like when they were a teenager. They were once young, but they grew up, and now, they want to help you.

Ready to get Help?

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form and a DUI Lawyer will review your case for Free!

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Did a State Trooper stop you in Denver, Colorado Springs or Aurora? Or perhaps a County Sheriff pulled you over in Lakewood, Fort Collins or Arvada? Did a local Police Officer ask you to step out of your car in Pueblo, Westminster or Boulder? If you have been questioned for suspicion of drunk driving, then hopefully you are beginning to understand that Driving Under the Influence, or DUI, (commonly called DWI, or Driving While Intoxicated, in other states) is a serious offense in Colorado.

review the definitions and penalties for DUI in Colorado (as outlined by Colorado’s Office of Legislative Legal Services in Colorado Drunk Driving Laws, updated August 2009, and the Colorado Department of Transportation’s website).

Colorado makes three distinctions for drivers arrested for drunk driving who are age twenty-one and older:

• DWAI (Driving While Abilities Impaired by alcohol or drugs) for blood alcohol test results of 0.05% or higher, but less than 0.08%
• DUI (Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs) for blood alcohol test results of 0.08% or higher
• Persistent Drunk Driver for blood alcohol test results of 0.17% or higher

Many Coloradoans mistakenly believe they are not breaking any state laws while driving with a BAC (blood alcohol content) less than 0.08%. But as we’ll detail below, any BAC of 0.05% or higher for drivers can result in jail time, financial penalties and license suspension.

For drivers under age twenty-one, however, a higher standard of sobriety applies. A BAC test result of .02% to .05% is punished as follows (the terms used will be explained shortly):

• 1^st Offense
  • Fine of $100
  • Public Service Requirement of up to twenty-four hours
  • Driver’s License Suspension for three months
  • Addition of four points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• 2^nd Offense
  • Fine of $100
  • Public Service Requirement of up to twenty-four hours
  • Driver’s License Suspension for six months
  • Addition of four points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• 3^rd and Subsequent Offenses
  • Fine of $100
  • Public Service Requirement of up to twenty-four hours
  • Driver’s License Suspension for one year
  • Addition of four points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**

For a driver under age twenty-one with a BAC test result of 0.05% or higher, the penalties for adults may apply.

Colorado operates under the Expressed Consent Law, which means that the law presumes that every driver has consented to take a blood, breath, saliva, urine and/or any chemical test when asked to do so by a Law Enforcement Officer suspecting them of DUI or DWAI. Should a driver refuse to submit to a requested test, his driver’s license may be revoked, and his refusal may be admitted in court as presumption of guilt.

Should you be arrested for DUI or DWAI and have your license suspended or revoked, you have seven days to appear at a Colorado State Driver’s License Office to request a hearing. If the arresting officer did not confiscate your driver’s license, you must surrender it at the Driver’s License Office in order to receive a temporary driver’s license permit, which will be valid until your hearing. Part of your sentencing at the hearing may require you to attend and complete (at your expense) driver education classes on alcohol. It is worth noting that a driver’s license “suspension” is completely different from a “revocation”:

• A “suspension” is a penalty that temporarily withdraws the driving privileges without voiding the license. Once all of the terms of the suspension have been met, drivers must pay a $95.00 fee to be considered for restoration of your driving privileges.
• A “revocation” completely voids the license; after the prescribed revocation period, a driver must re-apply and re-test (written and behind the wheel) for the privilege to drive under a new driver’s license.

It should be noted that Colorado is one of the few states that allows for license suspension solely based on BAC test results, regardless of whether a DUI conviction ensues.

• A BAC test result of 0.08% or higher equals an automatic license suspension for nine months.
• A second BAC test result of 0.08% or higher equals an automatic license suspension for one year.
• A third BAC test result of 0.08% or higher equals an automatic license suspension for two years.

Should the driver be convicted of DUI, the court will determine which license suspension or revocation penalty to enforce.

Now for Colorado’s DUI and DWAI penalties for drivers age twenty-one and older:

• First DWAI Conviction
  • Jail Term ranging from two days to one-hundred eighty days
  • Fines ranging from $200 to $500
  • Public Service Requirement ranging from twenty-four to forty-eight hours
  • Addition of eight points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• Second DWAI within Five Years of a Prior DWAI Conviction
  • Jail Term ranging from forty-five days to one year
  • Fines ranging from $600 to $1,000
  • Public Service Requirement ranging from forty-eight to ninety-six hours
  • Driver’s License suspension for one year
  • Addition of 8 points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• First DUI Conviction
  • Jail Term ranging from five days to one year
  • Fines ranging from $600 to $1,000
  • Public Service Requirement ranging from forty-eight to ninety-six hours
  • Driver’s License suspension for nine months
  • Addition of 12 points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• Second DUI Conviction within Five Years of a Prior DUI Conviction
  • Jail Term ranging from ninety days to one year
  • Fines ranging from $1,000 to $1,500
  • Public Service Requirement ranging from sixty to one-hundred twenty hours
  • Driver’s License suspension for one year
  • Addition of 12 points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• DWAI Conviction within Five Years of a Prior DUI Conviction
  • Jail Term ranging from sixty days to one year
  • Fines ranging from $800 to $1,200
  • Public Service Requirement ranging from fifty-two one-hundred four hours
  • Driver’s License suspension for one year
  • Addition of 8 points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• DUI Conviction within Five Years of a Prior DWAI Conviction
  • Jail Term ranging from seventy days to one year
  • Fines ranging from $900 to $1,500
  • Public Service Requirement ranging from fifty-six to one-hundred twelve hours
  • Driver’s License suspension for one year
  • Addition of 12 points to the driver’s motor vehicle record**
• Third or Subsequent DUI and/or DWAI Conviction
  • Driver’s License suspension for two years
  • Addition of 8 points for DWAI or 12 points for DUI on a driver’s motor vehicle record**
  • If the Third DUI or DWAI is within seven years of the prior convictions, a mandatory 5-year driver’s license revocation applies under the “habitual traffic offender” statute.
• Additional Fines In addition to the fines listed above, a driver convicted of DUI or DWAI may be required to pay:
  • Court costs
  • Penalty surcharges of up to $500 to help offset programs aimed at persistent drunk drivers
  • Penalty surcharges to benefit the Crime Victim Compensation Fund
  • Any other fines the court sees fit to levy
• Additional Penalties Should the driver’s be involved in an accident causing injury or death while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, much more stringent penalties will apply for Vehicular Assault and/or Vehicular Homicide.
• Installation of Ignition Interlock Device for Repeat DUI or DWAI Offenders

The Ignition Interlock Device is installed in a driver’s vehicle and requires him to provide a breath sample within legal BAC limits in order to start his vehicle. Also, the driver may be required to provide breath samples at intervals while driving. A driver will be required by the court to install and maintain, at his own expense, a court-approved Ignition Interlock Device if his BAC test result is 0.17% or higher and any of these applies:

• Driver’s license revocation for two DUI and/or DWAI convictions within five years.
• Driver’s license revocation for three DUI and/or DWAI convictions within a driver’s lifetime.
• Driver’s license revocation for designation by the court as a Habitual Traffic Offender if one of the prior convictions was a DUI or DWAI.

Installation and maintenance costs of the Ignition Interlock Device can easily cost over $1,000 per year.

**Colorado’s Department of Motor Vehicles operates on a “point system.” Drivers are assigned points for various violations of driving laws, and alcohol and drug-related violations are included in this point system.  Here are the point totals that will result in a driver’s license suspension:

• Adult Drivers, age 21 and older
  • 12 points in any 12 consecutive months
  • 18 points in any 24 consecutive months
• Minor Drivers, ages 18 thru 20 years of age
  • 9 points in any 12 consecutive months
  • 12 points in any 24 consecutive months
  • 14 or more points between the ages of 18-21
• Drivers under the Age of 18
  • 6 points in 12 consecutive months
  • 7 points prior to turning 18

Are you overwhelmed by Colorado’s list of DUI and DWAI penalties? Do you see how serious a DUI or DWAI arrest in Colorado really is? You have the right to consult with a DUI attorney. If you have not already contacted one, why haven’t you contacted one? Colorado Law Enforcement Officers and District Attorneys pursue suspected DUI and DWAI offenders to the full extent the law allows. If you have been arrested for DUI or DWAI in Colorado, your next move should be to contact a DUI or DWAI attorney immediately, either by telephone or online. Just review the lengthy list of penalties above, which include driver’s license suspension and/or revocation, significant fines, jail time, lengthy community service requirements, point after point added to your motor vehicle record as well as possible felony convictions. Your arresting officer will work closely with the District Attorney in an effort to convict you and punish you in every legal means. So who is working closely with you? Do not make the ill-advised decision to “go it alone” in court. Contact a Colorado DUI /DWAI attorney today.

Ready to get Help?

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form and a DUI Lawyer will review your case for Free!

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It is illegal in most states for minors to be partaking of alcohol, marijuana, and other controlled substances, and to drive while doing so puts them in double jeopardy. Yet, teenagers are doing so at alarming regularity. Some studies show that 70 percent of teenagers drink alcohol, and 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related. So, why do teenagers drink and then drive?

The answer varies, but I am sure the reason why most teenagers drink and then drive has not really changed all that much since I was a teenager some 45 years ago. I can remember like it was just yesterday. I was home from my first semester in college, and I met my older brother in the bigger city at a nightclub some 30 miles from where I grew up. Many of our friends from our small hometown were there including Chris and Vance, who, like me, were underage. My brother was one of the few in our group who was of age. Even in those days when we had no computer at home, we all had learned the art of faking our identification. Being 19, it was fun to be able to go to a nightclub, drink, dance, and meet new girls. After all, it was simply just socializing, something we had seen our parents do all our young lives. Of course, the night must always come to an end, and just as sure as the sun was going to come up the next morning, we were still 30 miles from home. Having consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol, we each mounted our trusty vehicles and drove back home. My brother and I left a little earlier than our friends, something to do with the next morning. By the grace of God, I like to think, we made it back safely to our cozy beds our Mom had so lovingly made for us. Vance and Chris were not so lucky. Driving a 1965 Ford Mustang, the cops estimated they were doing 105 mph when they hit the curve just four miles from their own safe and cozy bed. The curve was sharp and had multiple telephone poles sunk into the ground with a one inch steel cable passing through them acting as a guard rail. Four of the poles were no match for the mass of the Mustang’s steel as it tumbled and rolled, snapping the poles like breaking tooth picks. Both Chris and Vance, not wearing seat belts, were thrown from the vehicle. Vance was killed instantly when he landed directly on his neck breaking it in multiple places, and Chris died in the hospital earlier that morning having lost his lower jaw, they later said, when the Mustang rolled over him. Was this just another case of a teenage alcohol related accident? Being a small town, there was never a need to publicly humiliate the parents by announcing the blood alcohol content of the boys, but my brother and I, who had partied the previous night with Chris and Vance, knew the real truth. The local police never asked us about where we were that fatal night, but the memories still haunt me to this day.

We all have to get from one place to the next, and socializing is in our nature. Before you consider drinking and driving in Ohio, please know that regardless of whether or not you are a teenager, a first time DUI conviction can cost you an administrative license suspension of 90 days, a court-ordered suspension up to three years, up to 72 hours in jail, and up to a $1000 fine. On top of that, the conviction will go on your permanent driving record as public information.

If you are a teenager or have a teenager that has recently been accused of a DUI in Dayton, Ohio, you are going to need professional help. Contact us right now at DUIAttorneyHome.com , and we will help you find the professional in your area who is not only understanding of the laws affecting teenage drunk driving, but they remember and understand what it was like when they were a teenager. They were once young, but they grew up, and now, they want to help you.

Ready to get Help?

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form and a DUI Lawyer will review your case for Free!

---

It is illegal in most states for minors to be partaking of alcohol, marijuana, and other controlled substances, and to drive while doing so puts them in double jeopardy. Yet, teenagers are doing so at alarming regularity. Some studies show that 70 percent of teenagers drink alcohol, and 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related. So, why do teenagers drink and then drive?

The answer varies, but I am sure the reason why most teenagers drink and then drive has not really changed all that much since I was a teenager some 45 years ago. I can remember like it was just yesterday. I was home from my first semester in college, and I met my older brother in the bigger city at a nightclub some 30 miles from where I grew up. Many of our friends from our small hometown were there including Chris and Vance, who, like me, were underage. My brother was one of the few in our group who was of age. Even in those days when we had no computer at home, we all had learned the art of faking our identification. Being 19, it was fun to be able to go to a nightclub, drink, dance, and meet new girls. After all, it was simply just socializing, something we had seen our parents do all our young lives. Of course, the night must always come to an end, and just as sure as the sun was going to come up the next morning, we were still 30 miles from home. Having consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol, we each mounted our trusty vehicles and drove back home. My brother and I left a little earlier than our friends, something to do with the next morning. By the grace of God, I like to think, we made it back safely to our cozy beds our Mom had so lovingly made for us. Vance and Chris were not so lucky. Driving a 1965 Ford Mustang, the cops estimated they were doing 105 mph when they hit the curve just four miles from their own safe and cozy bed. The curve was sharp and had multiple telephone poles sunk into the ground with a one inch steel cable passing through them acting as a guard rail. Four of the poles were no match for the mass of the Mustang’s steel as it tumbled and rolled, snapping the poles like breaking tooth picks. Both Chris and Vance, not wearing seat belts, were thrown from the vehicle. Vance was killed instantly when he landed directly on his neck breaking it in multiple places, and Chris died in the hospital earlier that morning having lost his lower jaw, they later said, when the Mustang rolled over him. Was this just another case of a teenage alcohol related accident? Being a small town, there was never a need to publicly humiliate the parents by announcing the blood alcohol content of the boys, but my brother and I, who had partied the previous night with Chris and Vance, knew the real truth. The local police never asked us about where we were that fatal night, but the memories still haunt me to this day.

We all have to get from one place to the next, and socializing is in our nature. Before you consider drinking and driving in South Carolina, please know that regardless of whether or not you are a teenager, a first time DUI conviction can cost you up to 90 days in jail, a $1000 fine, 30 days of public employment service, and your license being suspended for six months. On top of that, the conviction will go on your permanent driving record as public information.

If you are a teenager or have a teenager that has recently been accused of a DUI in Columbia, South Carolina, you are going to need professional help. Contact us now and we will help you find the professional in your area who is not only understanding of the laws affecting teenage drunk driving, but they remember and understand what it was like when they were a teenager. They were once young, but they grew up, and now, they want to help you.

Ready to get Help?

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form and a DUI Lawyer will review your case for Free!

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