It can be devastating when your underage child faces a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. In Virginia, your child may get into this trouble when they are caught operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or higher. In addition to penalties, such as fines and community service, this charge could seriously affect their future if it ends with a conviction.
Thus, you need to be careful about what you do next.
Here are two things that can help:
Talk to them
Of course, you may be disappointed about your child being charged with a DUI. However, consider remaining calm and talking to them. They’ll likely need your help, not your anger right now. Further, inform them about the mistakes to avoid while the case is pending. These include talking to the police, driving without a license and violating any order the court gives.
Get legal help
It may be tempting to just accept the charge, pay the fines, have your child complete the stated hours of community service and attend an Alcohol Safety Action Program then continue with their life. However, by doing these, they’ll get a conviction on their record.
It will help to get legal guidance to fight your child’s DUI charge. Numerous defense strategies exist, including:
- Lack of reasonable suspicion
- Inaccurate chemical tests
- Invalid arrest, and so on.
If your child is charged with a DUI, you may get frustrated, but this can lead to costly mistakes. It is better to stay calm and obtain more information about the legal options available.