You also can’t take a job where you have to drive a vehicle, like getting some extra money delivering food, when you’re under 18 in the state of California. In 2006, the state adopted provisional license restrictions, which substantially limit the ability for teen drivers to get in trouble behind the wheel.įor the first 12 months of having a license in California when you’re under 18, you must be accompanied and supervised by a licensed parent, guardian, or an instructor who’s at least 25 years old whenever you’re carrying passengers who are 20 years old or younger, or if you’re driving between the hours of 11 p.m. Restricted and Graduated Driving Laws in Californiaĭespite the scary consequences of drinking and driving, California law makes it possible for teenagers to develop good habits early. C.V.C. § 25658 (e). Parents and other adults also get in trouble for influencing teenagers’ decisions about alcohol, including potential child endangerment law issues and illegally distributing alcohol to minors, the latter of which is punishable by a $1,000 fine, community service, and potential jail time. ![]() With second offenses, the fines and community service time increase, with most community service being completed at an alcohol or drug treatment facility or at a county coroner’s office. Attempt to purchase alcohol - $100 maximum fine and community service if you actually are successful with purchasing, the fine goes up to $250.Minor in possession of alcohol - $250 fine and community service.Possessing false identification - minimum $250 fine and/or 24-32 hours of community service.Those rules, plus additional penalties, include: Your driver’s license will be suspended for a full year if you’re caught, and if you’re too young or don’t have a license yet, you’ll have to wait a full year to get one. Even if you’ve narrowly escape a DUI or you’re a passenger in a vehicle, if you’re attempting to drink in California and you’re under 21, you’re breaking California law. See also: DUI Arrest in California: What Do I Do Now?, Breathalyzer Laws in California When Underage Drinking Leads to Other ChargesĬalifornia takes underage drinking seriously, whether you’re behind the wheel or not. Even with appropriate insurance, another individual’s medical bills or wrongful death claims filed by surviving family members could have major financial implications for the teen driver and his or her family. If you get behind the wheel and injure someone, you could be held responsible for the injuries sustained by other parties. On your first offense, you’ll have your license suspended for a year, if your BAC is 0.01% or higher, or you refuse or fail to take the preliminary alcohol screening test. The legal drinking age is 21 in California, which also is a zero-tolerance state. Zero Tolerance Law makes it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.01% or higher if you’re under 21. The first major set of laws under California Vehicle Code that influences teen drivers is underage DUI. Sadly, many of the teen car accidents are completely preventable and being aware of these risks and guarding against them can help to prevent serious issues. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Six teens ages 16-19 die each day from motor vehicle injuries. ![]() population but account for 11% - $10 billion - of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries each year. In the United States, young individuals ages 15-19 represent approximately 7% of the U.S. ![]() Get Help from an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer California Alcohol Laws and Penalties It’s important to understand how drinking and driving laws and teenage driver laws in California intersect with teen driving concerns. Plus, the guilt that follows you for life if you’ve caused an accident while drinking and driving - it just isn’t worth it. There may be criminal as well as civil penalties for a teen driver who causes an accident while under the influence. That same 16- to 19-year-old age group is 1.9 times more likely to crash than drivers of all ages once alcohol is part of the equation.Īn accident involving alcohol can have catastrophic consequences, including serious injuries or even death. In California, the crash rate for 16-year-olds is 3.7 times higher than drivers of all ages, while it’s 2.7 times higher for those ages 16-19. This is what makes teen drivers extremely likely to be involved in an accident in general, and worse if they choose to mix alcohol with being behind the wheel. Many teens do not have the experience behind the wheel to handle a car safely in different situations including driving at night, driving in inclement weather, or operating a vehicle with many passengers inside. Alcohol is always dangerous when mixed with driving, but this situation can become even more serious when it’s teenagers behind the wheel.
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