8. What If I'm Under 18 Years Old?
Juvenile DUI's (under 18 years old) are usually treated differently than adult DUI's in Mendocino County. Typically, the juvenile probation department in Ukiah is first to become involved, and will usually contact a juvenile and his/her parents immediately if the juvenile is in custody, or subsequent to arrest if the juvenile is released.
A decision will be made whether to recommend a probation hearing or Mendocino County juvenile court proceedings at the juvenile court in Ukiah. If the case proceeds to a juvenile DUI finding, then one can typically expect to see at least 6 months formal probation (including reporting to an assigned probation officer, random search & seizure terms, & random drug/alcohol testing), 10-20 hours community service, one-year license suspension, DUI youth classes, CHP start smart program, and approximately a $400 fine.
Although juvenile criminal records in Ukiah may be sealed at age 18, DMV records will continue to show juvenile DUI suspensions (typically one year) for at least 10 years following a Mendocino County incident. The following link is an example of a 22 year old man's DMV driving record showing one juvenile alcohol suspension with .03% alcohol (age 16), one minor DUI with .08/.07% alcohol (age 20), two suspended license cases, and one adult DUI with .11/.12% alcohol (age 22): Juvenile DMV Record. Consult with a Mendocino DUI lawyer about your specific case.