Underage DUI in Bellevue

While many believe that a Bellevue minor DUI is little more than the result of one youthful indiscretion, the truth is that a conviction could impact young person's life in unimaginable ways. Acquiring a criminal record at a young age can cause problems in the future, so a minor DUI conviction should be avoided at all costs. The Bellevue minor DUI attorneys at the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe can help if your child was charged with this serious Washington crime.

A minor DUI can be charged to a person under 21 years of age if they're caught driving with a blood alcohol content of .02 or higher or any measurable amount of marijuana based on THC from a blood draw. If convicted of a minor DUI criminal charge in Washington, the potential exposure for sanctions is huge. Many wrongly assume that under age drinking and driving is nothing more than a serious traffic ticket in Washington State. 

This is absolutely false. Minor DUI is a serious criminal misdemeanor charge, punishable by up 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Additionally, other discretionary penalties can be imposed. Additionally, obtaining a criminal record involving allegations of drinking and driving can be the most damaging long-term repercussion, especially when it comes to future employment.

Our Bellevue minor DUI lawyers are sometimes contacted by young people who plead guilty to this alcohol-related crime thinking it's no big deal. When they realize how damaging a conviction truly is, they ask us if there is any way to get the conviction off their record. Sadly, once a Bellevue minor DUI case has been decided and a conviction is entered, there is little that we can do until the crime is eligible for expungement under Washington State's laws regarding vacating a criminal conviction.

Having a criminal record means living with a permanent blemish on your reputation, and it is almost impossible to fully erase. Landlords and employers check their applicant's criminal histories, which makes it hard for individuals with minor DUI convictions to gain an advantage over other applicants. If an employer or landlord has a choice between someone with a clean criminal history and someone else who has a criminal record, which person do you think they will choose?

This means that even one beer, even a a few sips of alcohol for that matter, in a moment of poor judgment could derail a young person's life for years to come. Our Bellevue minor DUI attorneys aggressively defend clients facing these charges, because we are fully aware of how devastating they can be if our client is found guilty.

If your or one of your children has been charged with a minor DUI in Washington State, contact our Bellevue law office immediately. You have 20 days after an arrest for Minor DUI to file for an administrative hearing, which is less than three weeks to protect your entire future. Our Bellevue minor DUI attorneys need time to investigate and prepare your case, something that is only possible if we have ample time.

Contact our Bellevue law office today for a cost-free consultation concerning your minor DUI case. If you retain one of our Bellevue minor DUI lawyers, you will have more than thirty years of collective experience working to defend your interests. We handle hundreds of DUI-related cases every year for Bellevue residents of all ages, so benefit from our experience