Penalties For Underage DUI

Interviewer: As far as penalties go, and for being on their record, is it the same as an adult DUI? Will it be on the record forever?

Brian Sloan: It will be on the record forever. If they were to get another DUI within the next 7 years, the driving under the age of 21 with alcohol in the body would not be considered a prior DUI offense. If convicted for being under the age of 21 with alcohol in the body while driving, it is not going to be used as a prior DUI to get someone a harsher penalty if they were to get charged with a DUI in the future.

What Happens to People Between the Ages of 18 & 21?

Interviewer: Is there any significant difference if they were in between the age of 18 and 21, as opposed to under 18, when it pertains to driving under the age of 21 with alcohol in the body?

Brian Sloan: With 18 year olds and under there can be a difference. I’ve seen a few of those cases. When someone is 18, 19, or 20 years old, their license does get suspended for 2 years upon conviction. It is possible to negotiate a plea agreement where a person pleads guilty to an over-the-age-of-21 DUI. In doing so, their license is suspended for only 90 days, not two years.

When someone under the age of 18 is charged with driving with alcohol in the body and being under the age of 21, even if we are able to negotiate a plea agreement to a first-time DUI, the Motor Vehicle Division will pay attention to the person’s age. They will suspend the license for 2 years, regardless of what is actually pled guilty to.

If someone is 18, 19, or 20 years old, the Motor Vehicle Division doesn’t really pay attention that they are under 21. If someone is under the age of 18, then they are paying close attention.

Interviewer: Brian, what would you say are some of the common misconceptions that clients under the age of 21 have in regards to DUIs?

Brian Sloan: They think it’s not a big deal. They’re an adult in the eyes of the law. They’re over the age of 18. They can vote; they can smoke. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to drink alcohol? Most people are shocked that they could lose their license for 2 years. It’s the standing of our law. It really doesn’t make sense in the general scheme of things that you can vote, you can smoke, you can serve your country, but you’re not allowed to consume alcohol. The license issue seems to be the most surprising and shocking to people.

Interviewer: With people under 21, do you end up dealing with the client’s parents?

Brian Sloan: Usually the parents are involved. Sometimes people are trying to hide things from their parents. Involved parents are a good sign. I normally recommend counseling, if someone is under the age of 21, with alcohol in their body. It doesn’t make them bad people, and I believe it needs to be a family decision.

I don’t mean to intrude on family decisions. However, if someone is at the point where they’re under the age of 21, they have alcohol, or drugs, or medications in their system, and they’re facing charges, they are part of the judicial system, then I think there needs to be a family discussion about getting that person into counseling. This benefits them personally, in the court system and I think it can benefit them in the eyes of the prosecutor.

By Brian Douglas Sloan

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Why Attorney Brian Douglas Sloan?

18+

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4,100+ DUIs Successfully Defended

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“I am one of only a handful of Phoenix DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.”

I have spent my entire career focused on DUI Defense representation, having personally defended more than 4,100+ DUI clients in the past 18+ years.

If you’re looking for a divorce attorney, tax attorney, or civil attorney, then I can comfortably say: "I’m not the one for you".

Coming up with traditional, as well as outside-the-box motions and defenses for my clients, often with good results, is the hallmark of my practice.

Lawyers that say they are "aggressive", or "will fight for you", are a dime a dozen. They use these phrases because that is what they think people want to hear. The truth of the matter is, being "aggressive" rarely gets the client anywhere in these court systems. Being "aggressive" isn’t the same as being good, and is often used to put on a show for a client to hide the fact that they aren’t doing anything meaningful for the client.

The same is true for the lawyers that claim to do DUI Defense... and Criminal Cases..., and Accident cases..., and Divorces. A Jack-of-all-Trades is a master of none. By handling all different sorts of cases, they take away from their ability to truly focus on DUIs, and keep up to date on the latest changes in DUI Defense Representation.

What I offer is intelligent, quality DUI Defense, at an exceptional price.

I am one of only a handful of Arizona DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.

I have not only taught other lawyers how to do DUI Defense Representation at statewide seminars, but I produce DUI Legal Guides used by defense lawyers across Arizona.

I am one of the most award-winning DUI Defense Lawyers in Arizona; have been recognized nationally, including in a 2022 issue of USA Today; and there are only a few lawyers in Arizona who have personally defended more DUI cases than I have. I am also one of the most reasonably-priced DUI Lawyers, as I pride myself on charging a Flat Rate only for the legal services you need, and not for the legal services you don’t.

I am also the lawyer who people call once they realize that their original lawyer screwed something up, gave them false hope or false promises, or simply just took their money and didn’t do much on the case. You would be surprised at how often this happens.

Save yourself the trouble of hiring the wrong lawyer, and hire the right DUI Defense Lawyer from the start.

You can reach me on my personal cell phone: 480-720-7839.

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