Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

About the author: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) develops prevention and intervention programs in response to juvenile delinquency and victimization.

In response to the large of number of deaths of fifteen- to twenty-year-olds resulting from alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, all fifty states have enacted zero tolerance laws which make it illegal for drivers under the age of twenty-one to operate a vehicle while they have a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than .02 percent. In most states, the penalty for violating this law is suspension or revocation of the driver's license. The deterrent effect of zero tolerance laws has led to a significant reduction in alcohol-related vehicle crashes and fatalities for drivers ages fifteen to twenty.

Drinking alcohol before driving is extremely risky...