From peer pressure to inexperience with alcohol, some young drivers get behind the wheel with alcohol in their system. In Florida, this can lead to serious charges that result in devastating consequences. In fact, even a small amount of alcohol in a driver’s system can lead to harsh penalties if they are under the age of 21.
Faulty breathalyzers and false positive readings as a result of eating certain food can cause some drivers under 21 to find themselves in this position even though they did not drink any alcohol.
Underage drunk driving and Florida’s blood-alcohol limit
According to the Florida Legislature, it is against the law for drivers under 21 to operate a motor vehicle if their blood alcohol level is .02 or greater. Some teens do not realize that drinking a very small amount of alcohol can result in a drunk driving case, or that alcohol can remain in one’s system hours later.
Florida’s low blood-alcohol limit for drivers who have not reached the legal drinking age can increase the odds of a young person facing drunk driving charges, even if they did not consume any alcoholic beverages.
License suspension due to underage drunk driving
If a law enforcement official finds that a driver under 21 has an alcohol level of at least .02 after administering a breath test or a blood test, they suspend the young person’s driving privileges. Additionally, drivers who refuse to submit to alcohol level tests also face license suspension.
Aside from the loss of driving privileges, someone facing these allegations could face other challenges in life due to a drunk driving case, such as academic issues, career problems and a shattered reputation. This highlights the importance of handling underage drunk driving charges carefully.
