If I’m am 18 and received a minor consumption ticket, what to say or should I expect in court tomorrow?

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If I’m am 18 and received a minor consumption ticket, what to say or should I expect in court tomorrow?

I’m not going to lie, I’m quite scared. Here’s my situation. I was drinking with a few friends at a lake house watching the sunset. Since I was not very intoxicated I was asked to help a family friend of mine because he had had been drinking down at the beach and needed to get back to the house (he has an alcohol problem). As I was walking him up, a police officer stopped and asked my age and whether or not I had been drinking, etc. I told the truth and was respectful. He brought me back to the station and wrote me a minor consumption ticket. I left on good terms. What could the future effects of this be for me?

Asked on May 28, 2012 under Criminal Law, Indiana

Answers:

Kevin Bessant / Law Office of Kevin Bessant & Associates

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Typically for a MIP citation, the judge in your case may place you on a probation, ordering you not to come into contact with anymore alcohol until you reach 21. In some jurisdictions, you only have to pay a fine, but because this is a criminal offense in most states, it can carry the penalty of probation or jail. Because this appears to be your first criminal offense, more than likely you will placed on some form of a pre-trial diversion program that will allow you to keep a clean criminal record upon a successful completion of all court conditions.


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