In Texas, it’s illegal to drink when you are under 21 and for adults to provide alcohol to minors. Further, the Texas Zero Tolerance law prohibits minors from operating a motor vehicle, including a watercraft, in a public place while having any detectable amount of alcohol in their system.
Here is what you need to know about this law:
Driving under the influence of alcohol by a minor
If someone underage is caught driving while intoxicated, they may be charged with the criminal offense of Driving under the Influence of Alcohol by a Minor ((DUIA by a Minor) – a class C misdemeanor.
The penalties for a first offense include a fine of up to $500, a 60-day license suspension, 20 to 40 hours of community service and mandatory alcohol awareness classes.
If a minor who is 17 years or older is caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more, they may face up to a $2,000 fine, three to 180 days in jail and a driver’s license suspension for 90 days to a year.
The penalties one can face increase with the frequency of the offense.
Non-driving alcohol-related offenses
The Zero Tolerance law also applies to alcohol-related offenses that do not involve driving. These include a minor falsely stating they are 21 years or older or presenting a document that portrays so to a person who sells or serves alcoholic beverages, purchasing or attempting to purchase alcohol and consuming or possessing an alcoholic beverage.
If caught committing any of these offenses, you may have to pay a fine, lose your driver’s license, perform court-mandated community service or attend an alcohol awareness class.
If you are potentially facing penalties related to the Zero Tolerance law, you need to learn more about the situation to understand how you can protect yourself.