Underage 21 DUI Charges

When an officer is investigating a person under the age of twenty-one (21) for DUI, the officer has two choices:

• arrest the young person for DUI if the officer has probable cause that the young person’s normal faculties are impaired by alcohol or drugs; or
• not arrest the young person for DUI because of a lack of probable cause of impairment, but instead ask the young person to submit to a preliminary breath test under Florida’s zero-tolerance statute that triggers an administrative suspension (the officer is typically stuck with that decision even if the PBT reading is over .08).

Why are young people subject to this zero-tolerance approach? According to figures recently cited by the Tampa Police Department, in 2009, 18 to 20-year-olds made up only 4.9% of licensed drivers in Hillsborough, although those drivers make up about 5.5% of DUI arrests, 7.8% of drinking drivers in crashes, and 8.8% of fatal crashes.

As a result, officers treat underage drunk driving cases seriously.

Attorneys for DUI under 21 in Tampa, FL

The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm are experienced in representing young people charged with DUI throughout Hillsborough County, including Tampa and Plant City, Florida. We also have an office in New Port Richey across from the West Pasco Judicial Center courthouse. In Pinellas County, our Clearwater office is near the Criminal Justice Center (CJC) courthouse.

We can help you fight the administrative suspension at the DHSMV and the DUI case in court. Whether your case involves a breath test, urine test, blood test or a refusal to submit to testing, we can help.

For juveniles or people under the age of 21, after being charged with drunk driving, it is particularly important to contact a DUI lawyer as soon after the arrest as possible so that all avenues of attack are available.

After an accusation of underage drinking and driving, you need an attorney within 10 days of the arrest to request a formal review hearing to protect the driver’s license.

Contact us today to discuss your case involving a juvenile or person under twenty-one (21) with an experienced Tampa DUI attorney.

Call (813) 250-0500.

The 10-Day Rule to Fight the Administrative Suspension

After a person under the age of 21 is arrested for DUI, the officer is required to take the young person’s Florida driver’s license and issue a temporary driving permit (assuming the driver’s license is otherwise valid), which remains in effect for ten (10) days after the DUI arrest.

Young people charged with DUI must often rely on their parents and other relatives to help them hire an attorney. Many parents are shocked by their child’s conduct and intent to impose their own restrictions on the young person’s ability to drive.

Parents should remember the importance of fighting the administrative suspension even in cases in which the young person will not be driving after the arrest.

An administrative suspension for DUI has lifetime consequences, including a dramatic increase in insurance premiums. Fighting that administrative suspension might avoid many of those collateral consequences.

The formal review hearing with the Bureau of Administrative Reviews with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) in Hillsborough County is an important part of the case. The criminal defense attorney can require all of the witnesses to attend and question them under oath.

What is a 322.2616 Violation?

A violation of Florida Statute 322.2616 is neither a traffic infraction nor a criminal offense. The detention for a Section 322.2616 violation does not constitute an arrest.

Actions taken pursuant to this statute are recorded in the motor vehicle records maintained by DHSMV. Actions taken under this statute do not necessarily bar prosecution under Florida Statute 316.193. However, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may not suspend the person’s license under Florida Statute Sections 322.2615 and 322.2616 for the same episode.

Florida Statute 322.2616 Procedures

Florida Statute 322.2616 explains the provisions for suspending a driver’s license for a person under 21 years of age even though the person is NOT arrested for DUI.

The statute explains the right to review and provides for the administrative suspension of the driving privileges of a person under the age of 21 who has a blood-alcohol or breath alcohol level of 0.02 or higher and is driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle in this state.

The statute also provides for the administrative suspension of the driving privileges of persons under the age of 21 who have refused to submit to a test to determine their blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level.

In a DUBAL case involving driving under the influence case with a DUI breath test reading over .08, the hearing officer must determine the type of instrument used by looking at the Breath Test Result Affidavit. If an Intoxilyzer was used, the hearing officer must verify that there is a current copy of the Agency Inspection report in the file.

The .02 Zero Tolerance Citation HSMV 78103

The scope of the formal review hearing in a zero-tolerance case shall be limited to the issues listed in Florida Statute 322.2616. The 0.02 Zero Tolerance Citation is typically handwritten on the HSMV 78103 form. If a PBT was used, then the hearing officer must verify that a current copy of the United States Department of Transportation’s conforming product list is included.

The hearing officer must make an independent determination based on a preponderance of the evidence as to whether the department should sustain, invalidate, or amend the suspension.

The hearing officer must render a decision within 7 days of the close of the review hearing and send notice to the person of the hearing officer’s decision as to whether sufficient cause exists to sustain, amend, or invalidate the suspension. The disposition of any related criminal proceeding shall not affect a suspension.

A breath test to determine breath-alcohol level pursuant to Florida Statute 322.2616 may be conducted as authorized in Florida Statute 316.1932 or by a breath-alcohol test device (PBT) listed in the United States Department of Transportation’s conforming-product list of evidential breath-measuring devices.

The reading from such device is presumed accurate and is admissible in any administrative hearing conducted under the authority of Florida Statute 322.2616.

The blood test results obtained during an investigation conducted under Florida Statute 316.1932 or 316.1933 may be used to suspend a person’s driving privilege under Florida Statute 322.2616.

A violation of Florida Statute 322.2616 is neither a traffic infraction nor a criminal offense nor does being detained pursuant to this statute constitute an arrest. Actions taken in accordance with this statute shall be recorded in the motor vehicle records maintained by DHSMV.

Actions taken under this statute do not bar prosecution under Florida Statute 316.193. However, the department may not suspend the person’s license under Florida Statute Sections 322.2615 and 322.2616 for the same episode.

Florida’s “Zero tolerance” Legal Limit of .02

For juveniles and young people under the age of 21 charged with DUI, Florida has enacted a zero-tolerance legal limit of .02. For DUI cases involving a driver under the age of 21 in Tampa, FL, this legal limit means that even one drink can put the driver over the legal limit.

A young person charged with DUI can face severe sanctions including jail time or incarceration, probation, fines, court costs, community service hours, a driver’s license suspension.

The indirect consequences can be even more expensive, including an increase in insurance premiums that can last for more than three (3) years after the conviction. Perhaps most importantly, the DUI conviction can limit the young person’s future employment and educational opportunities. High school and college students may also face disciplinary actions, including being expelled from school.

The Administrative Suspension for Under-Aged 21 DUI

Under Section 322.2616 of the Florida Statutes, a DUI officer in Hillsborough County, FL, can request that any juvenile or under-21 driver submit to a breath test, urine test, or blood test if the DUI officer has probable cause to believe the driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs (or even if the officer believes that the driver might have a blood alcohol content of a .02).

Simply smelling alcohol on the driver’s breath after a traffic stop might be sufficient to establish probable cause for an investigation when the driver is a juvenile or under 21.

If the young person declines the DUI officer’s request for a chemical test or if the breath test reading is over .02, an automatic administrative suspension will occur unless an administrative suspension is requested to invalidate the suspension.

A request for a formal review hearing must be made in writing within 10 days of the underage driver’s arrest in Tampa, FL.

How Long is the Administrative Suspension for a Person under 21 Accused of DUI?

If no request is made following the DUI arrest or if the driver does not prevail after the formal review hearing to invalidate the administrative suspension, then the following suspension will occur for any person under the age of 21 who took the breath test and blew over the .02 legal limit:

• First under age 21 DUI Suspension: Six (6) months; or
• Second or subsequent under-age 21 DUI suspension: Twelve (12) months.

If the underage driver refuses to take a breath, blood, or urine test following the arrest for DUI, then the following administrative suspension will occur if the individual does not prevail at the formal review hearing to invalidate the suspension:

• First under age 21 DUI Suspension: Twelve (12) months;
• Second or Subsequent under age 21 DUI Suspension: Eighteen (18) months.

In certain DUI cases, the juvenile or under-age 21 driver will take the breath test and blow over .05. That higher reading comes with additional punishments, including a requirement that the driver’s license suspension remain in effect until the driver completes a substance abuse evaluation and treatment course as part of the DUI School requirement.

During those ten (10) days, the juvenile or driver under 21 should file for a formal review hearing to attack the administrative suspension of the driver’s license. At the hearing, the Tampa DUI Juvenile Attorney can subpoena and cross-examine witnesses and explore possible defenses that can be used to fight the charges in the criminal case.

Finding a Lawyer for Florida’s Zero Tolerance DUI Laws

Crime statistics released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) show that the number of DUI arrests for persons aged 18 – 20 throughout Hillsborough County has decreased steadily since 2005.

• 2011 – 239
• 2010 – 290
• 2009 – 347
• 2008 – 353
• 2007 – 446
• 2006 – 486
• 2005 – 482

Although the number of arrests has dropped, according to the DHSMV, the tragic consequences for young people who drink have not. FDLE estimates that although 18 to 27-year-olds make up only 18.3% of licensed drivers, they comprised 44.1% of the drinking drivers in fatal alcohol crashes in 2009. When young people get caught drinking and driving, the law takes a particularly harsh approach when punishing that behavior.

Contact an experienced lawyer at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss ways to protect yourself against this serious accusation today. Contact us to speak with one of our criminal defense attorneys about the DUI case in Tampa or Plant City in Hillsborough County or any of the surrounding areas.

Call (813) 250-0500.

This article was last updated on Friday, May 10, 2024.