An accident or unusual situation can lead to more serious charges if police suspect a driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the driver is underage, those charges may be compounded and further impact the future of a teenager. Recently, a teen driver in Tennessee was arrested and faces drunk driving charges and other accusations as well.
Police were alerted to the teen and apparently found him sitting at a traffic light. A phone call from a concerned citizen about the condition of the driver prompted them to the area where they found the 19-year-old male. The car he was was damaged. The teen was not able to tell police what the damage was from or where he had been.
The police administered a field sobriety test. The result led police to believe he was under the influence. Police also found a mailbox that was damaged nearby. The teenager was charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and also underage consumption.
The charges filed against the teen can lead to significant fines, loss of license and other consequences. Drunk driving charges resulting in a conviction in Tennessee can also lead to jail time under certain circumstances. Sometimes, drunk driving accusations can be plea bargained down and result in reduced charges and alternative sentencing programs like substance abuse classes and treatment. However, in Tennessee, a minor may be charged with drunk driving with a blood alcohol level of just .02 percent, meaning the method of gathering a blood alcohol content level can play heavily into how a situation is handled and what possible defense strategies may be relevant for a given case.
Source: wkrn.com, "Teen faces DUI charges after crashing into mailbox in Hendersonville", July 30, 2015