A New York teenager was charged with DWI and endangering the welfare of a child after he crashed his car in Oceanside on December 25, 2017. The 17-year-old driver had a 15-year-old passenger with him at the time of the crash.
Police say they were called to the car accident on Oceanside Road at 6:28 p.m. The male driver of a 2005 gray Nissan Maxima was standing near the area where his car was sitting sideways in the middle of the road. Afterward, the 15-year-old passenger was released to the custody of a relative. The driver was taken into police custody for evaluation.
According to police, at the time of the accident the driver of the car had bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech. He was later charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and endangering the welfare of a child. He was also charged with driving while intoxicated.
New York state laws pertaining to driving while intoxicated are different for drivers under the age of 21 than they are for older drivers. Underage drivers who drive drunk are not given a break due their age. In fact, their penalties on a first offense are actually more severe. A first DWI conviction for someone under 21 results in automatic driver’s license suspension for one year at minimum. Fines are the same as they are for drivers over 21. In some cases it could be possible for someone under the age of 19 to have a criminal conviction converted to youthful offender status. This can clear a young person’s criminal record for the purpose of job applications.
