DUI Child Endangerment Laws Lawyers

What Are DUI Child Endangerment Laws?

What Is the Penalty for Drunk Driving with a Minor as Passenger?
The penalties imposed on a DUI offender who is transporting a minor at the time of the offense varies from state to state:

• California
• If minor passenger is under 14 years old, California enhances existing DUI penalties by 48 hours in jail for a first offense up to 90 days in jail for multiple offenses
• DUI offender with a passenger who is a minor may also be convicted of child endangerment, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or in the state prison up to six years
• Florida
• If minor passenger is under 18 years old, Florida enhances existing DUI penalties by imposing sanctions of up to $1000 and 9 months in jail for a first offense and $5000 or a year in jail for multiple offenses
• Illinois
• If minor passenger is under 16 years old, Illinois enhances the existing DUI penalties and imposes a mandatory jail sentence ranging from 2 days to 1 year for a first offense and 90 days to 3 years for multiple offenses
• The defendant must also perform community service
• New York
• If minor passenger is under 17 years old, the DUI offender is subject to New York¿s Child Endangering Law ¿ the offense is a Class A misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year imprisonment
• Texas
• If minor passenger is under 15 years old, the DWI offender may be charged with a separate offense of Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger
• If convicted, the offense is a state jail felony punishable by at least 180 days confinement in a state jail

These penalties apply to non-injury DUI offenses only.

What Can You Do if You are Arrested for Drunk Driving DUI/DWI?
If you are arrested for Drunk Driving DUI /DWI, you should speak to a lawyer immediately to learn more about your rights, your defenses and the complicated legal system. There are very narrow deadlines for contesting the suspension of your license.