In Arizona, drunk driving is taken extremely seriously. As such, the associated penalties for being caught intoxicated behind the wheel of a vehicle can be extremely harsh. This is no less the case for young drivers. In fact, the restrictions on drivers under the legal drinkingage are in many ways far tougher than those imposed on adults.
One of the primary reasons for this is the sheer number of fatalities associated with underage drunk driving. As teenagers are already thought to have three times the chance of being involved in a fatal crash, alcohol is a factor that simply makes the whole situation more dangerous. However, in a bid to crack down on this issue, officers occasionally end upinvestigating someone innocent.
If you have not been drinking, then the chances are that you will walk away from the investigation without charge. However, if you have any alcohol in your system, regardless of whether it has made you drunk or not, you could be charged. This is because Arizona, like many other states, has adopted zero-tolerance laws.
As this article on teenage drunk driving explains, a zero-tolerance policy means that it is illegal for anyone under the legal drinking age to operate a vehicle if they have any alcohol in their bloodstream, no matter how little.
It can be a daunting investigation to go through. Fortunately, an attorney may be able to help you. He or she can advise you about the best possible defenses and may be able to assist you as you work to ensure the court hears your side of the story.
