Being charged with underage DUI can affect your future in ways that are hard to imagine right now. Your Columbus underage DUI lawyer at Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt will explain what this means for your situation and help you prepare for what comes next. 

When you are ready to speak with your Columbus DUI lawyer, we are One Call Away From Feeling Better. Reach out to our firm to get started.

Ohio’s Zero Tolerance Rules for Underage Drivers

If you are under 21 and have been charged with DUI in Ohio, you are facing a different set of rules than adult drivers. These cases move quickly, and even a small amount of alcohol in your system can result in serious consequences. 

Our firm is here to help you recognize what you are up against and how your Columbus criminal defense lawyer with Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt can step in to protect your future.

BAC Limits and How They Apply to Young Drivers

Ohio has a zero-tolerance policy for drivers under the age of 21 who have any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. While the legal limit for drivers over the age of 21 is 0.08%, the threshold for underage drivers is just 0.02%. That is a minimal amount of alcohol, and it does not take much to reach it. 

A single drink at a party or restaurant could be enough to put someone over the limit, even if they do not feel drunk at all. It is important to know that underage DUI charges are not always about obvious impairment. The presence of alcohol alone is enough to trigger a criminal case. 

Your underage DUI attorney with Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt will explain how these thresholds apply to your specific situation and what evidence may be available to challenge the charge.

Criminal Penalties for Underage DUI in Ohio

Underage DUI charges can come with serious penalties that go far beyond fines. A first offense may lead to a license suspension, court-ordered classes, and community service. Repeat offenses carry more severe consequences and can even lead to jail time. 

The long-term consequences are especially serious in a college town like Columbus, where many drivers are under 21. Whether you were pulled over near campus or after a social event, our firm knows how to help you handle the legal fallout. 

For a free legal consultation with a underage dui lawyer serving Columbus, call (614) 884-1100

The Underage DUI Investigation Process

Most underage DUI arrests begin with a traffic stop or a roadside check. If an officer smells alcohol or sees signs that something is off, they may start a formal investigation. What happens in those next few minutes can shape your entire case. 

Your Columbus DUI injury defense lawyer will take the time to look at how the stop was handled and whether it followed proper protocol.

Field Sobriety Tests and Chemical Testing

Once an officer suspects that you have been drinking, they may ask you to take field sobriety tests. These include walking in a straight line, standing on one leg, or following a light with your eyes. These tests are not always fair, especially when nerves or environmental conditions affect your performance. 

Officers may also use a portable breath test or take you in for an official blood or breath analysis. Under Ohio Admin. Code 3701-53, all chemical testing must meet strict standards.

That includes using properly calibrated equipment and trained personnel. If the officer skipped steps or used the wrong method, we will find out and make sure that gets addressed in your defense.

What Officers Look For in a DUI Arrest

Not every arrest is based on test results. Sometimes officers rely on what they claim to have observed. Slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slow reaction time are all common signs that they may report.

However, those signs do not always mean you were impaired. Being tired, sick, or anxious can affect how you look and act during a stop.

We have handled many cases where those assumptions did not match the facts. Our firm will review the entire report and determine whether the officer had enough probable cause to arrest you in the first place.

Every detail matters, especially if there was no accident or injury involved. If the officer made assumptions based on limited evidence, we will challenge that as part of your defense.

Columbus Underage DUI Lawyer Near Me (614) 884-1100

Legal Defenses Against Underage DUI Charges

A DUI charge under the age of 21 may feel like the end of the road, but it is not. Being charged does not mean you will be convicted. There are legal defenses that can apply to your case, especially if the testing was inaccurate, the stop was flawed, or your rights were violated.

Your Columbus underage DUI attorney will work with you to uncover what happened and what options you still have.

Challenging Test Results and Police Procedure

Underage DUI cases often rely on roadside tests or breathalyzers, but those results are not always reliable. If the officer made you take a portable breath test that was not maintained properly, used outdated equipment, or skipped steps, that can weaken the case against you.

Under Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.19(B), they must prove you were over the legal limit for someone under 21, which is just 0.02%. 

The same is true when it comes to license suspension. How and when your license can be suspended for underage DUI is outlined in Ohio Rev. Code § 4510.31.

If the stop was not valid or the test results are thrown out, the suspension may not hold up either. We will gather records, interview witnesses if needed, and challenge the process if there are flaws. 

Fighting for Reduced Penalties or Dismissal

In some cases, the goal is not to fight the entire charge but to reduce what is at stake. That can include asking for alternative sentencing, requesting a reduction, or filing a motion to suppress evidence that should not have been used.

Youth-focused courts may offer pretrial diversion programs, or a plea deal might allow you to avoid the worst of the potential consequences. 

Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.05, the state must meet a specific burden of proof. If they cannot do that, the charges may not stand. Even when the facts are difficult, our firm will push for the most favorable outcome available.

Whether that means full dismissal or a negotiated agreement, we will work to protect your future and keep a single mistake from defining your life.

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Speak With Your Underage DUI Lawyer in Columbus Today

A single mistake should not define your future, and our firm knows how to handle these cases with the care they deserve. 

Your underage DUI attorney in Columbus from Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt will guide you through every step and explain what can be done to protect your record. If you have questions or need support, contact us to speak with someone who gets what you are going through.