Conroe Underage DUI Lawyer

The state of Texas takes underage drinking seriously. If you’re facing charges, you shouldn’t just accept a permanent mark on your criminal record. Rather, enlist the help of a qualified and reputable Conroe underage DUI lawyer to help you defend yourself against the charges and protect your reputation and your future. 

Trust Benton Baker IV, Attorney at Law, Local Underage DUI Attorney in Conroe 

You can trust Benton Baker IV, Attorney at Law, to assist with every aspect of your case. Our team doesn’t spread our attention too thin across too many practice areas and too many clients, as most other law firms do. We focus on criminal defense, including DUIs and juvenile defense, which makes us the authority on criminal defense in Conroe for these practice areas.  

Mr. Baker has also served on the Bail Bond Board and in DWI Court programs, giving him additional perspective on your case. When you work with our Conroe underage DUI lawyer, you work directly with our lead attorney, Benton Baker IV. We never pass your case off to a staff member or junior attorney. 

Why Hire an Underage DUI Lawyer? 

If you’ve been caught drunk behind the wheel under the age of 21, you need a skilled underage DUI lawyer to take on your case. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Chapter 106 prohibits the consumption of alcohol by minors and sets a zero-tolerance limit. If you can be proven to have had any amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, you could be convicted of drunk driving.  

Facing these charges alone isn’t an ideal scenario. Instead, hire an underage DUI lawyer to assist with the facets of your case listed below: 

• Help you understand underage DUI laws and how they apply to your case. 

• Protect your constitutional rights throughout the legal process. 

• Help you explore and negotiate alternative sentencing if you choose to plead guilty. 

• Represent you in court should you decide to take your case to trial. 

• Help protect your driving privileges. 

How Common Is Underage DUI in Conroe, Texas? 

Conroe, Texas, is home to Lone Star College, Conroe Center. The campus, located at 777 Conroe Park N Dr., is a full-service educational center that caters to students in diverse disciplines. With a college in town and over 30 retail locations licensed to sell liquor, it should come as no surprise that underage drinking is not uncommon in Conroe. 

In 2024, the Conroe Police Department made a total of 283 arrests for DUIs. Of those arrests, 178 led to convictions for the original offense, while another 48 led to other convictions, and 25 were dropped. According to a study cited by the 2024 State Report on Underage Drinking Prevention and Enforcement, 28.1% of respondents ages 18-20 said they had consumed alcohol in the past month, and 13.9% of respondents ages 12-20 said the same. 

Potential Penalties for Underage DUI in Texas 

The consumption of alcohol by a minor is considered a Class C misdemeanor punishable under Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 by a fine of up to $500, community service, probation, a driver’s license suspension, and/or an alcohol awareness class. 

If the defendant has previously been convicted of at least two alcohol-related offenses, a third underage DUI is punishable by the sentences listed below: 

• A fine from $250 to $2,000 

• Jail time of no more than 180 days 

• A driver’s license suspension or denial of issuance 

What to Expect When Minors Are Charged as Adults 

Minors can also be charged as adults for DUIs under Texas law if they have BACs over the legal limit. Consequences of these charges that you can expect if convicted are listed below:  
 

• First offense. A first DUI offense is considered a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of 72 hours to 180 days, and a driver’s license suspension of 90 to 365 days. A Conroe underage DUI lawyer may be able to get the jail term and driver’s license suspension waived. 

• Second offense. A second DUI offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. Defendants charged with a second DUI face fines of up to $4,000, a jail term of 30 days to one year, and a driver’s license suspension of 180 days to two years. 

• Third or subsequent offense. A third or subsequent DUI is considered a third-degree felony. Defendants charged with a third, fourth, or more DUI could be fined up to $10,000 and face a prison term of two to 10 years. A conviction can also result in a license suspension for anywhere between 180 days and two years. 

• Intoxication assault. Intoxication assault is also considered a third-degree felony. 

• Intoxication manslaughter. Intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony. It’s punishable by fines of up to $10,000, a prison term of two to 20 years, and a driver’s license suspension of 180 days to two years. 

The most effective way to avoid the worst potential outcomes in an underage DUI case is to work with an underage DUI lawyer who knows the local judicial system and has experience taking similar cases to court.  

Implied Consent to Chemical Testing 

The Texas implied consent law requires drivers to submit to chemical testing upon request if officers believe they may be intoxicated. You are allowed to refuse to cooperate with preliminary breath testing and field sobriety tests, but you cannot refuse chemical testing. Attempting to do so could leave you facing an additional license suspension on top of the administrative suspension imposed as a result of your drunk driving arrest. 

Refusal to provide a specimen for chemical testing can lead to jail time and a license suspension of up to 180 days for a first refusal and two years for a second or subsequent refusal. 

Your Experienced Conroe Underage DUI Lawyer 

Whether you’re a student at Lone Star College or you work in the area, a DUI can cause you substantial trouble if you’re under 21. Having a Conroe underage DUI lawyer on your team can make all the difference. 

You can trust Benton Baker IV, Attorney at Law, to help with your underage DUI case. With nearly 30 years of experience, our lead attorney, Benton Baker IV, has handled hundreds of jury trials for his clients. He is deeply committed to his community and acts as a strong advocate for those within it facing criminal charges. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation.