If you're between the ages of 18 and 21, whether you're a college student or already working full time, you may have felt frustrated by the limitations of your "in-between" age. You're old enough to vote and join the military, but the law says you aren't mature enough to drink and purchase alcohol.

Some people in this age bracket choose to drink anyway and end up getting in trouble because of it, often when they're behind the wheel. In Baldwin, Pennsylvania, last Friday, a 19-year-old man was arrested on charges of underage drinking. A Baldwin Borough police officer was on patrol around 2:30 a.m. when he noticed a car speeding. He pulled over the driver and according to a news report, the officer said he smelled alcohol on the driver. He also said the driver failed field sobriety tests, so he arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol (underage.) The driver was taken to a hospital for a blood test before being dropped off at a gas station to be picked up by a friend. In addition to the underage DUI, the 19-year-old was expected to be charged with careless driving and speeding.

Even if you aren't driving, you can still be arrested and charged with underage drinking. Last month two young adults were pulled over in their car, again by a Baldwin police officer, who noticed their car had a broken brake light. The officer reported smelling alcohol and gave breath-analyzer tests to both the 19-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger, both of whom failed. The driver was ultimately arrested on suspicion of DUI and both he and his passenger were charged with underage drinking.

Although you may not be old enough to legally drink, you're still old enough to be charged as an adult with these crimes. It may not seem fair, but a criminal record can follow you for years, affecting your ability to get a job or be accepted into graduate school. That's why it's crucial for you to take steps to defend yourself as soon as you're arrested or accused of a crime like underage drinking or DUI. Don't let a mistake you made at this age follow you for the rest of your life.

Source: Baldwin-Whitehall Patch, "Another DUI Arrest in Baldwin Borough," Robert Edward Healy III, Feb. 13, 2012