Juvenile Defense Lawyers in Birmingham & Oak Park
Effectively Fighting Minor in Possession Charges
If any person under the age of 21 is found with any type of alcoholic beverage, they may be charged with minor in possession. This misdemeanor offense can be charged whether or not the person is drinking at the time of the arrest. While it may not seem very serious to drink or possess alcohol underage, the law views it differently. A conviction of minor in possession can lead to severe criminal penalties and the revocation of driving privileges. If you or your child were arrested for this crime, Fraiberg & Pernie, PLLC can help.
To make an appointment, reach out to our Birmingham juvenile defense lawyers at (248) 450-0232.
Understanding Minor in Possession Laws
The law clearly states that if you are under the age of 21, you cannot possess any type of alcoholic beverage in a public place. However, there are certain situations which could be misconstrued by law enforcement or a bystander. For example, your friend who is 25 could have purchased a beer and asked you to hold it, right at the moment that a police officer walked by. In order to reach a conviction, the prosecution must be able to prove that the alleged offense occurred in public and that you actually did knowingly possess or consume the alcohol.
You could be charged with minor in possession if you:
- Obtained alcohol as an underage person
- Attempted to purchase alcohol as an underage person
- Possessed alcohol as an underage person
- Misrepresented your identity to obtain alcohol as an underage person
- Used false identification to obtain alcohol as an underage person
Call Fraiberg & Pernie, PLLC today at (248) 450-0232 to make an appointment with our Birmingham juvenile defense attorneys.