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Zero tolerance laws and your teen driver

Parents of a tween? Who’s ready for them to drive? Any hands raised? Um, not mine!

Reality check — one day I’m going to blink and my daughter’s going to be a teenager proudly flaunting her very own driver’s license.  I can feel my hair turning grey just thinking about it.

Now’s the time to start educating your up and coming driver about the dangers they face when they get behind the wheel.

Let’s put alcohol near the top of that list of dangers! You don’t have to parent too long before you start hearing the horror stories.  Tragically, one in ten highschoolers drink and drive according to Center for Disease Control.(https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/teendrinkinganddriving/index.html)

GOOD NEWS!  Teen drinking and driving has reduced more than 50% since the 1990s. 

Zero tolerance laws may play a role in this.  I also like to think that parents are stepping up to the plate and educating their teens.

Hello! I didn’t even know about zero tolerance laws before researching and writing this post . Drinking and driving has never been an issue in my family, so I just hadn’t paid attention.  I’d like to hope drinking and driving never will be an issue for us, but our kids don’t come with guarantees, do they?

You need to be armed and ready with the facts about Missouri law and teen drinking and driving! 

FACT # 1: Zero tolerance laws for drinking and driving under age 21 exist in all fifty states, not just Missouri.

Moving to Illinois will not help! Moving anywhere will not help.  Tell your teen home sweet home is still the best option (or dorm sweet dorm).

FACT #2: Beware of one beer! That’s right. One measly beer and driving could seriously mess up your teen’s life and plans. ONE glass of wine, one cup of hard cider — you name it. Zero tolerance means zero.
NO blood alcohol content permitted!

FACT #3: Under zero tolerance laws, consequences are harsh!  Take a minute to read your teens this news, even if you get the eyerolls.
One online driving course for teens (www.teendrivingcourse.com) listed the following possible results of a first time DUI offense in Missouri.

  • Possible jail time of up to 6 months (That’s more than half a school year.)
  • If you’re lucky, a license restricture of 60 days.
  • $45 License Reinstatement fee – there goes your allowance!
  • Possible $500 fine – now you’re out of a few paychecks IF you can still get to work!
  • Possible Ignition Interlock Device installation — more money, more time, more hassle.
  • License suspension 30 days — if you’re not in jail, you  still can’t go anywhere!

Does this sound like a nightmare to your teen? It should!

Talk to your early teen driver. Ask them some thought-provoking questions.

How would it feel to have to get pulled over when they’ve had  just one beer?

What would it be like to dread facing a judge in court?

Worse yet,  can they imagine spending time in jail?

Do they want to graduate with their class or start college soon?

What about losing their driving privileges? Would that cost them their job? Their employment records might be trashed!

Is one drink really worth all this shame and sorrow?

Knowing the consequences of the zero-tolerance teen drinking and driving laws  just might change your teen’s mind about having a drink.

Sometimes we have to learn our lessons the hard way! If your teen is already facing a DUI charge, you need an aggressive, experienced Missouri DUI attorney!    http://steimel-law.com/traffic-matters.html

The Law Offices of Nathan A. Steimel, LLC  understand what is at stake for a young person under 21 facing DUI charges.

It’s worth a free initial consultation to see if you can get a life-time of consequences reduced!  You will get a fair and thorough evaluation of your teen’s case and the best possible outcome.  Call  636-244-3737 today for your free case evaluation.

This website is designed for general information only. The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

 

 

 

 

 

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What you don’t know about a DUI could RUIN your weekend and more…

What you didn’t know about a DUI could ruin your weekend!

Graduations, weddings, Memorial Day weekend — there’s a lot of
reasons to party just around the corner. You work hard to be free
to enjoy your weekends, right?

There’s a lot to celebrate, too, with winter behind us.

So don’t let one too many celebratory beers ruin your weekend
plans, especially if you already have a DUI on your record.

Here’s what could happen. Say you’re on your way home from
that great barbecue. You see the flashing lights behind you. You
weren’t even speeding! What!? Maybe a tail light was out?

Suddenly you remember you had more than one drink at that
barbecue. You’re not drunk. But that won’t matter if your BAC
(blood alcohol content) is above .08!

Not only do you stand to have your license suspended, you may end up paying $400 hard-earned dollars to lose your weekend! Yes. You will most likely be required to attend a Weekend Intervention Program, described as a “marathon weekend of structured activities.”

http://www.modwi.com/SATOP-WIP.asp

And yes, you will have to pay for it out of your pocket. There are
surely fifty other ways you would love to spend $400!
The program is 48 consecutive hours long, designed to make you
“feel the heat”.

Now that’s not a wonderful summer’s heat. While
your friends are out enjoying the next celebration, you will be in
the hot seat.

There’s more bad news. This weekend intervention program is
just the beginning, depending on your record. You will be evaluated for your ongoing need for counseling. Try to fit that in while working a 9 to 5 job!

Without legal help for a second DUI you are also very likely to lose
your driver’s license in the state of Missouri.

http://dor.mo.gov/drivers/RDP_alcohol.php

How are you going to get to work? Pay the bills?
Even worse, you will have to jump through some serious hoops to
get your driver’s license reinstated. Not fun explaining that to
your boss.

Imagine having to bum a daily ride off of friends and family for an
entire year. I helped a friend one summer who lost her license for
three months. It was so humiliating for her, just trying to get to work or get her children to where they needed to be.

With this heap of trouble, no one’s going to be celebrating!

You need a lawyer who cares about your future.

You need an experienced DUI lawyer whose fees will not bankrupt you while he defends you in court. The Law Offices of Nathan A. Steimel, LLC, are here to help.

http://steimel-law.com/dwi.html

With many years of experience defending DUI under his belt,
Attorney Steimel is very good at evaluating your case. He will let
you know honestly what he thinks the outcome will be.

He will vigorously fight for your rights in court.

You have much more to lose than your weekend! Your good name and your driving privileges are on the line if you are facing a DUI.

You have too much at stake! So pick up the phone and call a caring, local DUI lawyer in Missouri for a free consultation today. The Law Offices of Nathan A. Steimel, LLC,  are here to help! (636)244-3737. Check us out on the web at: http://steimel-law.com

 

This website is designed for general information only. The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.