DUI Q&A Series - What is a Minor DUI?

Summary

A driver that is under 21 who is found to be driving with a BAC between 0.02-0.08 can be charged with a Minor DUI in Washington state. With multiple different types of DUI charges, knowing which you could be charged with is crucial.

Transcript

A minor DUI does not refer to a DUI charged against someone under the age of 18. Minor DUI instead refers to anyone under the age of 21 who is arrested with a breath alcohol content of 0.02 to 0.08 while driving a motor vehicle.

It's a misdemeanor in Washington and generally will be prosecuted in district or municipal court, not juvenile court, even if you're under 18.

What happens if your breath alcohol content is above 0.08 and you're under 21?

You could be charged with a full gross misdemeanor DUI that would also be prosecuted in district or municipal court, not juvenile court, and then carry mandatory jail time, fines, and more.

Even with a minor DUI, your driver's license can also be affected. There could be up to a 90 day driver's license suspension before your court process even starts. And you may have very little time to try to prevent it, less than a week in most cases.

It's important that you consult as soon as possible after your arrest from minor DUI with a skilled DUI attorney who understands why these two different DUIs exist, what the difference is, and how to appropriately defend them both.