Defending Minors in Possession of Alcohol
To a teen or young adult, driving a car is a passport to freedom away from teachers, parents and authority figures. As Spider-Man's dad said in the movie, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Besides taking the car to school or the library, your juvenile may be experimenting with alcohol or drugs. If your high school or college student has been charged with underage drinking, the penalties may be swift and severe. If your child under 21 took a preliminary alcohol screening test or chemical test which registered blood alcohol content at .01 percent or higher, he or she is facing a black mark on their record.
Under California motor vehicle law, he will lose his license to drive for at least one year. For many students who want to attend competitive colleges, a DUI conviction raises red flags, and may make it difficult to qualify for scholarships.
I am Jim Pokorny, a criminal defense attorney with more than 30 years of experience. I am confident I can defend your son or daughter against minor in possession or MIP charges, and can defend clients against MIP-related charges, such as furnishing alcohol to a minor or attempting to pass a fake I.D. Contact me for a free initial phone consultation at the Law Offices of James F. Pokorny, A.P.C. in San Diego.
Underage Consumption Charges and Related Offenses
Students can be very persuasive. They often approach friends who are over 21 to buy alcohol for them. If they are desperate, they may even approach a stranger in the liquor store parking lot. Don't do it. If you furnish alcohol to a minor, you may be charged with a misdemeanor. The minor may also be charged, because it is against the law for minors to possess alcohol.
There are also California laws prohibiting the possession of a fake I.D., most often used to buy alcohol or buy a drink in a bar while under age. You may get into trouble if you present a fake I.D. to a police officer during an investigation. Both offenses are typically charged as misdemeanors.
Defending Your Loved One Against Underage Drinking Charges
To a teenager, losing a license for one year is catastrophic. I defend minors against underage drinking and MIP charges, and work to get convictions set aside so your student can truthfully answer on a job application that he or she has never been convicted.
I believe that everyone deserves a fresh start. My goal as a criminal defense lawyer is to provide you with meaningful information, so that you and your minor can make intelligent decisions about your underage drinking charges and its impact on the future. Please contact me today.
