If you are under the age of 21 and arrested for a DUI in Pennsylvania, you are automatically charged under the state’s highest BAC tier, regardless of how much or little alcohol you consumed. At a minimum, you will face at least two days or up to six months in jail, a fine of at least $500 (and as much as $5,000), and a suspended driver’s license for 12 months – unless you get into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program.
How you are prosecuted will depend on your age. If you are over 18, you are an adult and will be prosecuted in exactly the same manner as other adults, even if you are still in high school or college. If you are under 18, your parents will be informed of your arrest and you will receive notification of a juvenile petition that will be processed in Juvenile Court. In either case, it is imperative to work with an experienced defense attorney like those at Chieppor & Egner LLC.
In addition to hefty fines and jail time, other consequences you may face from an underage DUI:
To mitigate these consequences and protect your future, please seek the help of an experienced attorney immediately.