What is Californias Zero Tolerance Law?
The state of California has a “zero tolerance” policy that applies to drivers that are under the legal drinking age of 21. Since it is illegal for a person under 21 years of age to consume alcohol, the blood alcohol level can be far less than 0.08% to be deemed legally intoxicated. Any person under the age of 21 who is pulled over and either refuses to take or fails a blood alcohol test or breathalyzer test may have their license taken away on the spot. Some of the penalties an underage person found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol may face include: an alcohol treatment program, expensive fines, and a suspended license. The Department of Motor Vehicle Code 23136 (a) states that, “Notwithstanding Sections 23152 and 23153, it is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 years who has a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.01 percent or greater, as measured by a preliminary alcohol screening test or other chemical test, to drive a vehicle.
