Eagle Gate College, which is located in Salt Lake City, is focused on medical education. With its urban location and medical focus, Eagle Gate attracts many students who aspire to become doctors, nurses, or start other careers in medicine. For an aspiring surgeon or researcher, a DUI charge can be a devastating setback. Not only can a DUI arrest interfere with student loans, job opportunities, and enrollment status – there can also be severe criminal penalties, including jail time, probation, and costly fines.
If your son or daughter was charged with DUI at Eagle Gate College in Utah, you need an experienced Salt Lake City DUI lawyer fighting for your family. Take action to protect your child’s academic and professional future by consulting with a defense attorney for college students in Salt Lake City. To set up a free legal consultation concerning DUI charges at Eagle Gate College, contact Overson Law online, or call today at (801) 758-2287.
What is the DUI Law in Utah?
In most states, the blood alcohol content (BAC) threshold for a DUI charge and conviction is 0.08. However, Utah recently lowered the threshold to 0.05, giving Utah the strictest DUI limits in the United States. For drivers who are below 21, which is the legal drinking age in Utah, there is a strict “Not a Drop” policy which bans operating a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in the driver’s bloodstream. A BAC as low as 0.01 violates Utah’s Not a Drop rules.
Regardless of BAC, a driver may be charged with DUI if he or she operates a vehicle while incapable of doing so safely due to intoxication by a substance. For example, a driver can be charged with DUI for operating a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, Adderall, sleep medications, or other prescription drugs. This applies even in cases where the prescription was lawful and valid.
While the situation may seem hopeless, there are many different tactics to fight a DUI charge in Utah, depending on the specifics of the case. For instance, it may be possible to show that the arresting officer violated procedural rules, that the evidence against you is faulty or inadmissible, or that the officer lacked probable cause to affect the stop and arrest. Breathalyzer malfunctions, inadequate police training, improper handling of evidence, or similar issues can seriously weaken the case against you.
Eagle Gate College Student Alcohol Policy
Eagle Gate College enforces a student policy that strictly prohibits the illegal use of drugs and alcohol, including the use of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle. According to the Eagle Gate College’s student policy on drugs and alcohol, “Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken, up to and including expulsion or termination, upon violation of any of these policies, regardless of whether it is a first offense.” In other words, a student potentially risks being expelled, depending on the nature and severity of the offense – even if the student has an otherwise clean record.
What Are the Penalties for Drunk Driving in Utah?
An Eagle Gate student who is convicted of DUI faces not only possible suspension or expulsion – there can also be harsh criminal penalties, including incarceration. There is typically a minimum 48-hour jail sentence for a first-offense DUI in Utah, a license suspension of 120 days, and the risk of being placed on probation – plus, various court and criminal fees that, together, can add up to more than $1,300. Though generally a misdemeanor, DUI can be treated as a felony if it is the driver’s third offense, or if the driver has a prior conviction involving automobile homicide (vehicular homicide).
Keep in mind that the above penalties apply to first-offense DUI convictions involving alcohol. These penalties can increase substantially if the DUI involves controlled substances (such as marijuana), causes an accident or injury, or if the driver has a history of prior offenses. Fines and other penalties can also result from related offenses, such as open container violations or refusal of a breathalyzer.
Salt Lake City DUI Defense Attorney for Eagle Gate College Students
Founder of Overson & Bugden, Darwin Overson is an aggressive Salt Lake City defense lawyer who has repeatedly obtained acquittals, case dismissals, reduced penalties, and other positive outcomes in serious criminal cases. He is ready to evaluate your case with the same strategic eye and attention to detail. It may be possible to have your son or daughter’s DUI charges dismissed, avoid jail time, or reduce fines and other penalties. A skilled defense attorney like Darwin Overson can also work to ensure that your child’s constitutional rights are protected.
Do not wait another moment to get the compassionate, understanding legal help that your son or daughter needs. For a free legal consultation, call Overson & Bugden at (801) 758-2287, or contact us online. We are available 24 hours a day to help your family fight college DUI charges in Salt Lake City.
