We all know that it's not good to be arrested for anything, let alone driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated.

As a teenager or young adult, a conviction for DUI can pose serious problems, especially as it pertains to college applications, college scholarships, joining the U.S. Armed Forces, and applying for certain jobs.

If you are under 21 and hoping to join a college sport team, a DUI can be a deal breaker, and that alone can cost you a hard-earned scholarship or a career in sports.

Aside from affecting college, sports, and your career, an underage DUI can have a profound effect on your auto insurance premiums. If you, or your parents cannot afford the rate hikes, will you still be able to drive to work and school as you did before?

Common Penalties for an Underage DUI

Each state has enacted its own penalties for an underage DUI; depending on the state, underage drivers usually cannot drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 percent or more, but many states have enacted "zero tolerance" laws that make it illegal for underage drivers to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their systems.

Underage DUI penalties often include:

• Fines
• Alcohol education program
• Community service
• AA classes
• Attend MADD victim impact panel
• 6 to 12 months automatic driver's license suspension

If your son or daughter was arrested for DUI, it's important that he or she be represented by an experienced DUI defense attorney, who will fight their charges.

As a parent, you want to be aware that the penalties involved in a DUI are very fact-specific and rely on a number of factors, such as BAC, rate of speed, criminal record history, etc., and an experience DUI lawyer will help you understand what your son or daughter is up against.

To learn more about defending an underage DUI, we urge you to scroll through our directory to find an experience DUI defense attorney near you!