While some things in life are well-suited to do-it-yourself projects, legal issues typically are not an area people want to risk as the stakes can be high if the law is not followed. Trying to navigate the legal world can be difficult. Laws often vary greatly from one jurisdiction to the next and legal terminology can be incredibly confusing. Sooner or later, most people will eventually need the services of an attorney. We created this website to provide readers information about a wide range of legal issues. From estate planning to family law to real estate transactions, general attorneys provide the professional services many people need.
Enjoying a beer with a friend or having a drink while dining out is a normal part of life for millions of adults every day. While this small amount of alcohol probably does not affect the motor skills, coordination, or ability to reason for mature adults, it very well could affect a smaller, less mature teen driver.
Unlike adults, teens may not be lessening the effects of their alcohol content by also taking in food. Instead, teens that drink may doing so in a party setting, where over-consumption of alcohol with little or no food intake is likely to result in greater feelings of inebriation.
But when parents get the dreaded call that informs them that they need to go to their local police department because their teen son or daughter has just been arrested on a DUI, they aren't thinking about size differences and the speed at which alcohol metabolizes. Instead, they are already wondering what this will mean for their child's future.
If you are one of the many parents who get this call each year, here are some proactive tips for helping your child more effectively deal with the aftermath.
Seek legal representation
Teens who find themselves in this kind of legal trouble may find that their college plans and careers as an adult are seriously jeopardized by this one incident. Most colleges and many employers do consider an applicant's criminal history as part of the admittance or hiring process. In many cases, finding a DUI or DWI during the initial application process is enough for instant disqualification, without your child being able to offer any sort of explanation or show that the event caused positive changes in their lives.
By contacting a DUI attorney immediately, your child may be more likely to obtain a better legal outcome, including the possibility of:
Attorneys are much better positioned to deal positively with your teen's DUI charge because they already have an existing knowledge and relationship with local law enforcement and the court system in which the case will be heard.
Limit interaction on social media
Innocent exchanges on social media can have long-lasting ramifications for your child, especially is the midst of this type of serious legal issue. Colleges and employers are increasingly apt to scour applicant social media accounts for negative information as part of their decision-making process.
Photos and videos of your child's DUI arrest, as well as destructive comments by social media followers, could cause serious repercussions during the legal proceedings, as well as later, when they are applying to colleges or employers.
To lessen this risk, parents will want to have a serious conversation with their child to help them understand the importance of avoiding any social media discussion about the initial incident or the ongoing legal case.
Explore expungement
If the charges are not successfully dismissed or reduced to a misdemeanor, parents may want to discuss the possibility of having their teen's record expunged. While expungement may not be sufficient to completely remove all traces of the charge and sentence, it should limit visibility to higher levels of security checks, such as those used by the military or financial industries.
In most instances, the potential for expungement may require that your child stay out of any further legal trouble for a set period of time before the court will consider it.
To learn more about DUI and what you can do as a parent to help your child deal with the aftermath, make an appointment to speak candidly to a DUI attorney in your area.
Share