Related Charges Your Child May Face Alongside Minor DUI Charges

Idaho, just like other states, does not allow those under the age of 21 to drink alcohol, though a few exceptions to the rule exist. Thus, if the police arrest and charge your child with DUI, the prosecutor is also likely to charge the child with underage drinking.

The punishment for underage drinking depends on the specific circumstances of your child's case. For example, the court may fine the child up to $1,000 for a first offense. However, if the court convicts the child for a second offense, the fine could be up to $2,000 plus a possible jail sentence.

The prosecutor may also charge your teen with child endangerment if your child had minor passengers at the time of the arrest. Child endangerment is any action or inaction that threatens a child's psychological, emotional, or physical wellbeing. Both minors and adults can face child endangerment charges.

DUI is a dangerous act because alcohol impairs judgment and increases the risk of an accident. Therefore, an intoxicated driver with minor passengers puts the lives of their passengers at risk, hence the child endangerment charges.

Many kids who consume alcohol use fake IDs to purchase the liquor. The children typically buy false IDs from other criminals, present other people's IDs as their real IDs, or alter other people's real IDs. Idaho, just like other states, has laws against possession and use of false ID cards.

Therefore, if your minor used a fake ID to purchase alcohol, they may face a charge of possession and use of a fake ID in addition to the DUI charge. The prosecutor can enter this charge at the start of the case or even add it later on.

Your child may also face the charges of alcohol solicitation if they were the ones who supplied the alcohol. The charge is possible since anyone under the age of 21 commits an offense if they solicit (ask for or buy) alcohol from an adult. Therefore, if your teenager got their alcohol from an uncle or a big sibling, both the supplier and the receiver of the liquor commit criminal offenses.

In a typical group of teenage friends, one or a few friends supply the alcohol that the whole group takes. Here are a few profiles of teenagers who are likely to supply the alcohol that their friends then consume:

• The child has access to a fake ID.
• The child looks more adult-like than their friends.
• The child has an adult relative or friend who can supply them with alcohol.
• The child has something to prove to their friends.

Therefore, if your child matches the above profiles (and similar ones), they may have supplied the alcohol and will face the additional charge of supplying minors with alcohol.

Lastly, the authorities may also charge your child with public intoxication if the child has been arrested for minor DUI. Public intoxication charges mean that the child was or appeared intoxicated in a public place. Your child is especially likely to face the charge of public intoxication if they were disorderly or disturbed the peace of other members of the public.

At Hart Law Offices, P.C., we have the skills and experience to help you defend all of the above charges so that your child doesn't face a difficult future due to a one-time lapse of judgment. If your child faces any of these charges, give us a call so that we can start the defense process as soon as possible.