Zero Tolerance for Underage Drinking and Driving
Minnesota is known for some of the most severe drinking and driving laws in the country and their laws regarding drinking and driving aka DUI’s (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI’s (Driving While Intoxicated) are certainly no exception. Zero Tolerance means exactly what it says; any driver under the age of 21 with ANY alcohol what-so-ever in their blood will be grounds for misdemeanor penalties. They can receive a minimum of 90 days suspension of their driver’s license and could also receive fines and/or jail time. While driver’s over 21 may have a BAC (blood alcohol content) of up to and including .07, a driver under 21 could receive harsh penalties for any amount over ZERO. The smaller amounts of alcohol do not in and of themselves constitute a DWI or DUI and may not be used as aggravating factors in the event of a future DUI case, however.
Minors need to be aware of the drinking laws in their state and should not be consuming alcoholic beverages of any kind until over the age of 21. They also should not ride along with any driver who is participating in underage drinking. Minors who consume alcohol without parental permission and supervision, attempt to enter a bar or liquor store with the intent of purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages or attempt to use a false or altered ID in order to purchase alcohol can be found guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined $100. They will not face suspension of their driver’s license, however, unless they used their driver’s license in the attempt to purchase or attempted to drive during or after drinking.It is also important to note that underage driver’s who are found to have a BAC above the “legal limit” of .08 are subject to the jurisdiction of the adult court and face the same adult penalties and consequences including possible jail time, fines and loss of their driving privileges and possibly their vehicle as well. A DUI is a serious crime that has the potential to destroy and take lives and is not taken lightly by the Minnesota court system no matter what the age of the driver may be.
Other Zero Tolerance situations include school bus drivers. If found to have consumed ANY alcohol before driving a school bus, the driver faces losing their school bus driving endorsement and commercial driving privileges. As with the minor Zero Tolerance, the higher standard of DUI consumption must be present for further penalties to arise. A school bus driver holds the lives of innocent children in their hands and no amount of alcohol can be permitted to affect them in this responsibility. The Minnesota courts have no leniency in this matter as well they shouldn’t.
Drinking and driving is a serious problem around the world and countless lives are lost and damaged due to irresponsible choices. Zero Tolerance is designed to help young people learn this early and hopefully before it is too late. Anyone who has been pulled over for a DUI or any drinking and driving related crime in Minnesota has the right to speak with an attorney before submitting to chemical test of any kind and would be wise to do so in order to prevent a permanent loss of their driving privileges. Counseling is also available and should be sought to help prevent the situation from occurring again.