My little sister is 18 years old. Today she was caught drinking at the Philadelphia Phillies game. She wasn't driving or behind the wheel. The police gave her a ticket for underage drinking. What are the penalties/fines? She currently lives in New Jersey and has a valid driver's license with a clean record, will this be affected? Can her license be suspended? Does she need a lawyer? What's the worst case scenario and has this happened to anyone else?
2007-04-13 13:50:20 · 1 answers · asked by joe00_98 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You stated that she was caught drinking, but was not driving.
In Pennsylvania, an underage drinking citation is issued to anyone under the age of 21 who is caught consuming, transporting, purchasing, or attempting to purchase any alcoholic beverage. It is a summary offense that requires the issuing officer to contact the parents or guardians of the minor being cited.
Summary offenses are the least serious of criminal offenses. They are accompanied by citations and fines that are processed by a magistrate. They rank below both felonies and misdemeanors.
Underage drinking citations do not appear on criminal background checks because they are not finger-printable offenses. However, they will appear on a vehicular background check. These records can be accessed for a fee by insurance companies and also by investigators doing a thorough review of an applicant.
Under Pennsylvania law, your sister could face a fine of up to $300, jail of up to 90 days, and license suspension of up to 90 days. This is for the first offense, and it does not matter that she was not in a car when she was caught.
PURCHASE, CONSUMPTION, POSSESSION OR TRANSPORTATION OF LIQUOR OR MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES BY A MINOR
Section 6308 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title 18)
A person commits a summary offense if he/she, being less than 21 years of age, attempts to purchase, purchases, consumes, possesses or knowingly and intentionally transports any liquor or malt or brewed beverages.
REPRESENTING TO LIQUOR DEALERS THAT A MINOR IS OF AGE
Section 6309 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title 18)
A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree if he/she knowingly, willfully and falsely represents to any licensed dealer or other person, any minor to be of full age, for the purpose of inducing [that] person to sell or furnish any liquor or malt or brewed beverages.
2007-04-13 14:44:55 · answer #1 · answered by Mark 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
10- 20 years
2007-04-13 13:53:43 · answer #2 · answered by 1st Buzie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋