A large group of two dozen teenagers rented a limo party bus as their choice mode of transportation to get to their prom early this May. This group of minor teenagers was sent off by their parents, who were entrusting the lives of their kids in the hands of the experienced bus driver with the limo company. However, the ride went far differently than expected. Accident to the reports given by the children that night, the drive was frightening and they noticed that the driver was going at extremely fast speeds, not to mention that the bus was swerving in such a way that made them fear for their lives. Once arriving at the school, fortunately unharmed, the children claimed that they could smell alcohol on his body as he held open the door for the kids at the school. Not only that, many reported that he appeared to be slurring over his words, and had a difficult time maintaining his posture.

The children reported the incident to the school security guards on duty for the prom that night, and they immediately contacted the police. The bus driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol after the police discovered his blood alcohol content levels to be well over the legal limit, six times over in fact. The legal BAC limit for the average driver on the road is 0.08, whereas those driving a commercial vehicle are considered to be DUI if they are at all over 0.04. However the owner of the limo company claims that they hold a zero tolerance drinking policy for all of their employees.

The owner of the limo company claims that this 54 year old driver was an experienced driver who also claimed to in the past have taught people how to drive buses. The company at this point hopes that the man does not reflect poorly on their company, and they are claiming that he is a bad apple and his actions do not reflect that of Limos Alive at all. Depending on how severe the charges placed against the driver are, he could be looking at not only heft fines, and a loss of his job, but perhaps even time behind bars and probation, among other consequences.

While the teenagers in this bus were minors, they were all likely over the age of 14 when the bus driver transported their group. However, if any of the minors were in fact younger than the age of 14, he could be facing an enhanced DUI penalty for his actions for placing a child in danger. Having a minor in your car when arrested for driving under the influence will significant; affect your penalties. What is interesting about this category of your DUI offense is the fact that the court does not care whether or not the child was harmed by your actions, the level of alcohol the police found in your system and how reckless your driving was considered to be. All they will consider is whether or not you were above the legal blood alcohol content limit and if there was in fact a minor under the age of 14 years old in your vehicle at the time of your DUI. Obviously injury is an import faction the overall DUI conviction, though when addressing the topic of driving drunk with minors, that is what the court will focus on.

If you have been arrested for diving under the influence of alcohol, with or without a minor under 14 in your car, your future and reputation may be in jeopardy. Please contact a DUI defense lawyer immediately to discuss challenging the changes placed