Zero Tolerance Laws

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Zero Tolerance Laws

Zero tolerance laws punish criminals with no second chances. The goal is to completely eliminate unwanted conduct. When these laws are implemented, criminals face a pre-determined penalty. A specific example can be seen with drinking and driving. Minors under 21 will receive a penalty if they drive with any BAC level, (as drinking under 21 is illegal anyway). Adults over 21 cannot drive if their BAC is over .01 or .02 percent, depending on what the state allows. You can exceed these figures with one small drink, especially if your weight is low. And if you end up driving anyway, you could face a myriad of punishments ranging from losing your driver’s license to spending a few days in jail. If the latter happens, your crime could get reported, which may interfere with future job applications. The same is also true with many apartment complexes, as landlords sometimes conduct a criminal background check before approving a tenant.

Still, this is all dependent on the state you live in.

Consider New York’s zero tolerance laws.

According to the § 1192 section of New York law, anyone under 21 years of age cannot drive with any level of alcohol consumption, though .02 percent is used as a measuring point. If a driver is found guilty, they will face civil rather than criminal penalties. This means they will have to pay a fine and/or get their license suspended. There may be further revocation depending on the situation. For example, if the judge fears the offender will drink again, they may require them to go to AA or another form of rehab.