There are few worse things for a parent than their teenager calling home to say the police have arrested them.
Kids can get a provisional license in Texas when they turn 16 years of age. It allows them to drive without an adult, provided they have no more than one passenger under 21 years of age. Once they turn 18, they can get a full license to do as you or any other adult can do. Almost.
Kids can’t drink and drive at all
Kids face a much lower blood alcohol content (BAC) limit until they turn 21. You will fail a breath test if your BAC is over 0.08% as an adult. Your child, however, will be arrested if they have any alcohol at all in their bloodstream.
Texas does not permit anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol in the first place. Yet, as every parent knows, the reality is that many kids drink way before, since experimentation is common.
Something innocent could also cause your teen to test as if they had been drinking. For example, this could include eating too much of Gran’s sherry trifle, using mouthwash that contains alcohol or because the police breathalyzer machine was faulty.
How can you protect your child from harming their driving record so soon?
You can advise your child about the danger of drinking and driving. You can lock drinks cabinets, limit when you let them drive, etc. Yet if your child wants to drink, they will find a way to do so.
If they end up caught by the police with alcohol in their system, all you can do is get legal help to examine all possible defense options available.
