More University of Reno Students are Attending DUI Counseling
Over the last couple of years, a growing number of UNR college students have been attending classes at Premier Counseling Group for help with DUI and substance abuse problems. Currently, up to one half of the people who use Premier Counseling are students, and Premier has even started advertising their programs to UNR students directly. Often these students have been convicted for violating Nevada DUI laws and go to the center to fulfill the court's counseling requirements.
Nevada DUI laws mandate even stiffer requirements and penalties for underage drivers than for adults. Whereas driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is per se illegal for an adult, the limit is lowered to only .02 for drivers under 21 years old. Minors arrested for DUI also have to submit to an evaluation to determine whether they are a substance abuser (which usually costs $100), and their licenses will be suspended for 90 days. Some schools and colleges may even choose to suspend, expel or disqualify students with DUIs on their record.
Otherwise, underage drivers convicted of breaking Nevada DUI laws are punished like adults. The standard sentence includes community service, a victim impact panel, DUI school and fines. Jail is usually suspended for a first offense.
For more on this story, go to http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2010/04/19/dui-spike-crowds-help-center/.
