West Virginia Underage DUI Lawyer

Aggressive Defense For Clients Under 21 Facing a DUI Charge

If you are under 21 and facing a DUI charge or looking for a skilled lawyer to represent your son or daughter, West Virginia DUI attorney Harley Wagner is here to help you and your family through this difficult time.

Harley has been helping families with legal trouble for over 22 years and has defended over 3,000 clients against life-changing DUI charges. Mr. Wagner operates his DUI defense law firm throughout West Virginia, routinely traveling all over the state to help people in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Monongalia counties.

Call The Wagner Law Firm today at (304) 461-6000 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our underage DUI attorney in West Virginia!

What is West Virginias Zero Tolerance Law?

West Virginia has a “zero tolerance” law regarding driving under the influence of alcohol. This means that anyone under 21 years old and found to have a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.02 percent or higher will be considered legally intoxicated and face stiff penalties. These sanctions may include fines, revocation of driver’s license, and even jail time for those found guilty. It is essential to understand that the zero-tolerance law applies even if the individual has not yet reached the legal drinking age in the state.

What are the Penalties for an Underage DUI?

West Virginia underage DUI lawyer Harley Wagner comprehensively understands the state's DUI-under-21 laws and the associated penalties. Many of Harley's underage DUI clients are students who face possible disciplinary hearings and penalties at school. The penalties for drunk driving under 21 are serious regardless of the circumstances.

A first-offense driver under age 21 who submits to a breath, blood, or urine test and has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.02% or greater but less than 0.08% can face a fine of $25 to $100 and either a suspension of their driver's license for sixty days or six months of an ignition interlock device in their vehicle.

If you elect to receive an interlock device rather than have your license suspended, you must pay for the installation and the monthly monitoring fee. This can cost hundreds of dollars – an interlock is not cheap and is just one more expensive than court fines and bail money.

Can an Underage DUI be Removed From Your Permanent Record?

West Virginia DUI laws offer a youthful offender with an underage DUI and low BAC level to have the criminal charge dismissed after meeting specific requirements. The young person’s DUI conviction is also expunged (removed) once sentence completion is accomplished. West Virginia has one of the country's most favorable underage DUI laws, but the penalties are not to be taken lightly.

If you or your loved one under 21 gets pulled over for erratic driving and they “blow” over a 0.08%, the penalties get harsher and can even include jail time. West Virginia underage DUI attorney Harley Wagner can help you make sense of all the varying charges and penalties. He can recommend what to do next.

Contact Our West Virginia Underage DUI Attorney Today

DUI law is complicated, even for some newer, more inexperienced lawyers. You do not want to walk into court and defend yourself, plead guilty, or try to get a public defender appointed to you. The stakes are too high for drivers under 21 who a DUI conviction can impact for the rest of their lives.

Higher car insurance rates denied admission to the college of your choice, and diminished job prospects are real punishments. Mr. Wagner has seen good young people make an unfortunate mistake by driving after drinking at a party or football game, get pulled over and arrested, then pay for their mistake for a long time.

Contact The Wagner Law Firm today to schedule a FREE case review with our underage DUI lawyer in West Virginia!