I’m an Underage Designated Driver that was Pulled Over – What do I do?

You might offer to drive your friends if they have been drinking. While being the designated driver is nice, it can lead to some consequences. If you are a driver who is under 18 in the state of Connecticut, you have to abide by a strict curfew. If caught driving after 11 o’clock at night, you would be in violation of your curfew. You could have your license suspended and face other punishments. However, some teenagers might reason that it is better to break the law and drive after curfew than have a friend drink and drive. If you are an underage designated driver, here are the facts about getting pulled over in the state of Connecticut.

Are You Intoxicated?

One of the first things that a police officer will do if you are pulled over and you have intoxicated passengers in the car is determine if you are also intoxicated. If you are intoxicated, you are driving under the influence. If you are a designated driver and you are completely sober, you should comply with any tests that the officer asks you to perform. This might include a field sobriety test or a breath test. If you are not drunk, this should be clear to the officer. You probably won’t be asked to perform these tests.

If you have intoxicated passengers in the car, the police officer might wonder if you too have been drinking. However, if you comply and there is no alcohol in your car, you should not be charged with any alcohol related crimes.

Are You Under the Age of 18?

All drivers under the age of eighteen have restrictions on their license. For a certain period of time, teenagers are not allowed to drive with friends in the car. Also, they cannot drive after 11 o’clock at night. If you are a 16 or 17-year-old driver, you might be breaking one or both of these regulations in order to provide a designated driver for your friends. If charged with breaking these regulations, you will face a suspension of your license. You also face a fine.

However, there are some exceptions to the curfew regulations outlined by Connecticut law. If a driver is getting to or from work, they may break the 11 o’clock curfew. In addition, in the event of an emergency, this curfew can be broken. You can argue that saving your friends from a potentially dangerous situation constitutes an emergency. You can use this defense to fight the charge.

Many police officers will use their discretion when charging teenage drivers for breaking driving regulations. An officer might understand that you are helping your friends by driving for them and might let you go with a warning.

If you have been charged with violating your driving regulations, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer to help you fight these charges. You can save your license with a strong defense.