Being a parent of a teen driver can be challenging — and it can be devastating to learn that your child has been arrested and charged with DUI. If this has happened to your family, you will want to contact an attorney who can represent your child in Delaware. An attorney can work with you to develop an action plan to get the DUI removed from your child’s record.

Your Child Got a DUI. Now What?

Delaware has a Zero Tolerance Law for minors. If your child has even one drink when they are under the age of 21, it is illegal for them to drive. If your child is under 21 and has been arrested for DUI, they will have their license revoked for two months. They will have their license revoked for six months for a second offense and for over a year for subsequent DUIs.

If your child was driving without a license at the time of their DUI arrest, they will be fined $200. The fine will be between $400 and $1,000 for subsequent offenses.

Your child will also have to undergo the Delaware Outpatient 21 and Under program. This will generally consist of individual, group and family counseling.

How to Help Your Child After a DUI

If your child has got a DUI, the mark on their record can affect them for many years. In the short-term, it can impact their status at school and can make it harder to get to school, part-time jobs or after-school activities because their license will be revoked. In addition, they may face considerable stress at school because of their arrest and the social impact it may have. It’s not unusual for teens who have been arrested for a DUI to have trouble at school or social challenges because of what has happened.

Today, employers and colleges also check criminal records before hiring or admitting anyone. It is possible that a teenage mistake could affect future employment opportunities or the chance to get into a college or special program. The stress and the impact it can have on grades after a DUI can also impact college opportunities.

Since the costs of a DUI are so high for minors, parents will want to ensure they secure qualified, experienced representation for their child’s DUI case. A good DUI attorney in Delaware can guide you and your family through the process and can protect your child by formulating a plan.

An attorney can also be important as a resource to call. For example, if your child faces losing a spot on an athletic team because of their DUI or a school attempts to suspend your child or prevent them from taking part in school activities, an attorney can explain your rights and represent you and your family in any disputes.

Most importantly, a DUI attorney can seek to have the DUI removed from a child’s record, ensuring future opportunities are not lost. By removing the DUI from your child’s record, your child will not need to disclose the DUI to employers and may not need to face higher insurance costs as an adult.

In addition to hiring an attorney, it can be advisable to pursue counseling — both for your young driver and for you as a family. Counseling with a qualified professional can help you develop techniques for effective communication and problem-solving skills as a family so you can support each other during this difficult time and take steps to prevent drunk driving from happening again.

Contact the law office of Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz, and Bhaya if you’d like to speak to a DUI attorney today. Our office in Delaware has helped many young drivers and their families get strong representation and support. Our team is compassionate and understands this can be a challenging time.