Frequently Asked Questions About Underage DUI in North Carolina

If you are under 21 and charged with driving after consuming alcohol, you are likely facing what most people call “Underage DUI” pursuant to  N.C.G.S. 20-138.3. The statute uses more formal language by describing the offense as driving by a person less than 21 years old after consuming alcohol or drugs. That formal title rarely appears in everyday conversation, which is why most people searching for information use terms like underage DUI, underage DWI, or provisional DWI.

The FAQs below reflect the questions people and their parents ask when facing these charges in Charlotte and across North Carolina. A fair amount of anecdotal information about underage DUI in North Carolina is inaccurate or incomplete, and the assumptions people bring to these cases too often create confusion. At the Powers Law Firm, Bill Powers has helped clients understand and defend N.C.G.S. 20-138.3 charges for decades. The answers below come from those real conversations and give you a clearer picture of what these cases actually involve.