How is Zero Tolerance Different than Other DWI Laws?
Violation of the Zero Tolerance Law is not a criminal conviction. If a police officer has grounds to believe a young driver has consumed alcohol (such as the presence of an open beverage container in the car), the officer may detain the driver for the purpose of requesting or administering an alcohol chemical test (for example, a breathalyzer). A driver who is found to have a BAC of .02 to .07 is notified to appear at a DMV hearing. A driver who refuses to take a BAC chemical test will be notified to attend at DMV hearing for refusing to take a chemical test. What are the Penalties? • The penalties for a Zero Tolerance violation are: a 6-month license suspension, a $125 civil penalty and a $100 suspension termination fee. • A subsequent offense results in: a license revocation for at least 1 year or until age 21, whichever is longer, a $125 civil penalty and $100 license re-application fee. • The penalties for a Zero Tolerance violation chemical test refusal are: license revocation for
