New Albany Underage DUI Lawyers
An underage DUI charge in Indiana isn’t just a ticket. For a minor, it can mean a suspended license, fines, mandatory alcohol education programs, and a criminal record that follows them into college applications and job interviews.
If your child was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, or if you’re a young person reading this yourself, the team at CLLB Law is ready to help. Our New Albany underage DUI lawyers are here to talk through your situation in a confidential consultation. Call us at (812) 725-8230.
What Indiana’s Underage DUI Laws Actually Mean
Indiana holds drivers under 21 to a stricter standard than adult drivers. Under Indiana’s zero-tolerance law, a minor can be charged with operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent (ACE) of 0.02 or higher.
That’s significantly lower than the 0.08 legal limit for adults, meaning even a single drink could trigger a charge.
Here’s what that looks like in practical terms:
- A minor with a BAC between 0.02 and 0.07 faces a Class C infraction or a Class A misdemeanor depending on the circumstances, which can result in fines and a license suspension.
- A BAC of 0.08 or higher means the minor is charged under the same statute as an adult, which carries more serious criminal penalties.
- A conviction, even at the misdemeanor level, creates a public record that colleges, employers, and licensing boards can see.
- License suspensions can affect a young person’s ability to get to school, work, or extracurricular activities for months.
- Repeat offenses escalate quickly, potentially resulting in felony charges depending on circumstances.
Indiana courts take these cases seriously, and the Floyd County legal system moves at its own pace. Knowing what happens after first DUI arrest, how local prosecutors tend to approach underage DUI cases, and what options exist at the courthouse level, makes a real difference in how a case unfolds.
Why an Attorney Changes What’s Possible
Having an attorney on your side means the difference between accepting whatever outcome the prosecutor offers and actually knowing whether that outcome is fair.
Some families assume that because a minor has no prior record, the system will go easy on them. That’s not always how it works.
Prosecutors still pursue charges, and without someone who understands the procedures, deadlines, and available defenses, opportunities to reduce or dismiss charges can disappear quickly.
What an Attorney Actually Reviews
An attorney examines everything from the start:
- How the traffic stop was initiated and whether it was legally justified
- Whether field sobriety or chemical testing followed proper procedures
- Whether the testing equipment was functioning and calibrated correctly
- Whether any procedural errors affected the validity of the evidence
Alternatives Worth Pursuing
Beyond challenging evidence, an attorney can pursue options like diversion programs or deferred prosecution that may help a young person avoid a permanent record. These options don’t pursue themselves.
Don’t leave your child’s future to chance. Contact CLLB Law now at (812) 725-8230 for a confidential consultation to learn how we can help.
What Happens After an Underage DUI Arrest in New Albany?
After an arrest, the minor will typically be booked and released to a parent or guardian. A court date will be set, and formal charges will be filed. At the initial hearing, the minor will enter a plea. This is where having legal representation already in place is particularly valuable because early decisions can shape everything that follows.
Pre-Trial Hearings and Negotiations
From there, the case moves through pre-trial hearings, potential negotiations with the prosecutor, and, if no agreement is reached, a trial. Indiana courts do offer diversion programs for some first-time juvenile or young adult offenders, but eligibility depends on the specific charge, the minor’s history, and the approach taken early in the case.
License Suspension Proceedings
Throughout this process, the minor’s driving privileges are at stake separately from the criminal case. Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles handles license suspension proceedings on its own timeline, and missing a deadline or failing to request a hearing can mean an automatic suspension.
How CLLB Law Approaches Underage DUI Defense
CLLB Law has served the Southern Indiana region for years, and our team brings more than 50 years of collective legal experience to every case we handle. We’re not a firm that hands off client matters to someone with a year of experience and a stack of files.
Our attorneys are skilled, focused advocates who treat every case with the attention it deserves.
Recognized by Our Peers
We’ve earned Super Lawyers designations and consistent top rankings in our practice areas because we do the work, ask the harder questions, and find solutions that others sometimes miss. We’re recognized for approaching complex situations with creative thinking rather than defaulting to the obvious path.
That approach matters in underage DUI defense, where the right strategy often depends on details that aren’t obvious at first glance.
Deeply Involved in Our Legal Community
Our firm is also deeply involved in the broader legal community. We hold membership in the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and serve on the board of the OSI Foundation. We take our responsibilities seriously, both in the courtroom and in the community.
We Know What’s at Stake
As underage DUI lawyers in New Albany, we understand that the families who call us are already stressed. Tuition is looming. A summer job is on the line, and a DUI conviction can affect your job prospects long after the case is closed. College acceptance letters haven’t arrived yet.
A charge like this lands at the worst possible time, and the financial and personal weight it adds is real. We keep that in mind in every conversation and every decision we make on a client’s behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Underage DUI Charges in Indiana
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Can a minor’s underage DUI charge be expunged in Indiana?
Indiana does allow expungement of certain criminal records, including some misdemeanor convictions, after a waiting period has passed and eligibility criteria are met. For an underage DUI, the specific charge, how it was resolved, and the minor’s subsequent record all factor into whether expungement is an option.
An attorney can review the details of your case and advise you on what may be possible down the road.
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What if my child refused a chemical test during the traffic stop?
Indiana has an implied consent law, meaning drivers are considered to have consented to chemical testing by operating a vehicle on public roads. Refusing a test carries its own consequences, including an automatic license suspension, separate from the criminal case. However, refusal doesn’t automatically end a defense.
Our criminal defense attorneys review the full circumstances of the stop and any refusal to determine how it affects the overall case strategy.
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Will this charge affect my child’s financial aid or college enrollment?
Potentially, yes. Some colleges ask about criminal convictions on their applications, and a conviction, even a misdemeanor, may require disclosure. Certain federal financial aid programs can also be affected by drug or alcohol-related convictions.
This is one of the reasons resolving the charge favorably matters beyond just avoiding fines or a suspension.
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How quickly do we need to act after an arrest?
Promptly. Indiana law sets specific deadlines for requesting certain hearings, including those related to license suspension. Missing those windows can close off options that would otherwise be available.
Reaching out to an attorney as soon as possible after an arrest gives your case the best possible foundation.
Take the Next Step: Contact CLLB Law Now
A charge isn’t a conviction. What happens next depends largely on how the case is handled from the start. CLLB Law’s New Albany underage DUI attorneys are ready to review the facts, answer your questions honestly, and build the strongest defense the evidence supports.
Call (812) 725-8230 today to schedule a confidential consultation. Let’s talk about what happened, what your options are, and what we can do together.
CLLB Law 318 Pearl St #200 New Albany, IN 47150
Attorney Gretchen Ragains
Gretchen Ragains is a passionate and experienced criminal defense attorney at Church Langdon Lopp & Banet LLC, where she advocates for individuals facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. With a career spanning both defense and prosecution, Gretchen brings a well-rounded, strategic approach to every case she handles.. . [ Attorney Bio ]
