Finding out that the law caught your teen driving drunk can make your heart sink. You might feel scared, angry and confused all at once. Your family now faces legal issues that affect both your child and you as the parent. Illinois takes teen drunk driving very seriously, and the effects can last for years.
Legal consequences for your teen
When your teen gets a DUI in Illinois, they face several penalties that vary based on their blood alcohol level and if they’ve been in trouble before. They may have to deal with:
- License loss: Your teen could lose driving rights for at least 3 months even with small amounts of alcohol. Higher levels mean longer suspensions.
- Court trouble: Your teen might face charges that bring community service, classes about alcohol harm, and in some cases, jail time.
- Check-ins: The court often requires teens to report regularly, take random drug tests and attend programs where DUI victims share their stories.
- Future impact: A DUI can show up when your teen applies to schools or jobs and may make car insurance much more costly for years.
These problems are just the start of what can be a long and stressful process. Your family will need to work through these issues while also dealing with how this affects you as a parent.
Parental liability concerns
As the owner of the car your teen was driving, you may face your own set of problems after their DUI arrest.
- Insurance costs: Your family’s car insurance will likely go up by a lot, and some companies might even drop your coverage.
- Legal risk: If your teen hurt someone while driving drunk, that person could sue you because you owned the car.
- Money troubles: You might face costs for lawyers, court fees, higher insurance and possibly payments to anyone harmed.
- Special insurance: You might need to file special insurance forms (called SR-22) that prove you have coverage, which costs more.
Getting help from a lawyer who knows both teen cases and DUI law is your best move. The right legal help can protect your teen’s future and your family’s finances. Quick action after the arrest gives you a better chance to handle this tough situation well.