I got a minor possession of alcohol ticket at a state park campground. I didn’t have any alcohol in my hands and they didn’t test sobriety

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

I got a minor possession of alcohol ticket at a state park campground. I didn’t have any alcohol in my hands and they didn’t test sobriety

I’m most likely fighting the ticket. But if i don’t what will happen?

Asked on April 26, 2009 under Criminal Law, California

Answers:

MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 14 years ago | Contributor

You will be responsible for any and all fines and it will be on your record.  It may be sealed when you become an adult, but you may need to file a motion to do so.  Further, depending on how it is categorized, you may be able to get any convictions expunged after a certain time period.

If you didn't have any alcohol in your hands, and officers didn't test sobriety, then did you supply it?  See below.  You may have your drivers license suspended in addition to any other fines and penalties.

25662.  (a) Any person under the age of 21 years who has any
alcoholic beverage in his or her possession on any street or highway
or in any public place or in any place open to the public is guilty
of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of two hundred fifty
dollars ($250) or the person shall be required to perform not less
than 24 hours or more than 32 hours of community service during hours
when the person is not employed or is not attending school. A second
or subsequent violation shall be punishable as a misdemeanor and the
person shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or
required to perform not less than 36 hours or more than 48 hours of
community service during hours when the person is not employed or is
not attending school, or a combination of fine and community service
as the court deems just. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
community service requirements prescribed in this section require
service at an alcohol or drug treatment program or facility or at a
county coroner's office, if available, in the area where the
violation occurred or where the person resides. This section does not
apply to possession by a person under the age of 21 years making a
delivery of an alcoholic beverage in pursuance of the order of his or
her parent, responsible adult relative, or any other adult
designated by the parent or legal guardian, or in pursuance of his or
her employment. That person shall have a complete defense if he or
she was following, in a timely manner, the reasonable instructions of
his or her parent, legal guardian, responsible adult relative, or
adult designee relating to disposition of the alcoholic beverage.
   (b) Unless otherwise provided by law, where a peace officer has
lawfully entered the premises, the peace officer may seize any
alcoholic beverage in plain view that is in the possession of, or
provided to, a person under the age of 21 years at social gatherings,
when those gatherings are open to the public, 10 or more persons
under the age of 21 years are participating, persons under the age of
21 years are consuming alcoholic beverages, and there is no
supervision of the social gathering by a parent or guardian of one or
more of the participants.
   Where a peace officer has seized alcoholic beverages pursuant to
this subdivision, the officer may destroy any alcoholic beverage
contained in an opened container and in the possession of, or
provided to, a person under the age of 21 years, and, with respect to
alcoholic beverages in unopened containers, the officer shall
impound those beverages for a period not to exceed seven working days
pending a request for the release of those beverages by a person 21
years of age or older who is the lawful owner or resident of the
property upon which the alcoholic beverages were seized. If no one
requests release of the seized alcoholic beverages within that
period, those beverages may be destroyed.
   (c) The penalties imposed by this section do not preclude
prosecution or the imposition of penalties under any other provision
of law, including, but not limited to, Section 13202.5 of the Vehicle
Code.

13202.5.  (a) For each conviction of a person for an offense
specified in subdivision (d), committed while the person was under
the age of 21 years, but 13 years of age or older, the court shall
suspend the person's driving privilege for one year. If the person
convicted does not yet have the privilege to drive, the court shall
order the department to delay issuing the privilege to drive for one
year subsequent to the time the person becomes legally eligible to
drive. However, if there is no further conviction for an offense
specified in subdivision (d) in a 12-month period after the
conviction, the court, upon petition of the person affected, may
modify the order imposing the delay of the privilege.  For each
successive offense, the court shall suspend the person's driving
privilege for those possessing a license or delay the eligibility for
those not in possession of a license at the time of their conviction
for one additional year.
   As used in this section, the term "conviction" includes the
findings in juvenile proceedings specified in Section 13105.
   (b) Whenever the court suspends driving privileges pursuant to
subdivision (a), the court in which the conviction is had shall
require all driver's licenses held by the person to be surrendered to
the court.  The court shall within 10 days following the conviction
transmit a certified abstract of the conviction, together with any
driver's licenses surrendered, to the department.
   (c) (1) After a court has issued an order suspending or delaying
driving privileges pursuant to subdivision (a), the court, upon
petition of the person affected, may review the order and may impose
restrictions on the person's privilege to drive based upon a showing
of a critical need to drive.
   (2) As used in this section, "critical need to drive" means the
circumstances that are required to be shown for the issuance of a
junior permit pursuant to Section 12513.
   (3) The restriction shall remain in effect for the balance of the
period of suspension or restriction in this section. The court shall
notify the department of any modification within 10 days of the order
of modification.
   (d) This section applies to violations involving controlled
substances or alcohol contained in the following provisions:
   (1) Article 7 (commencing with Section 4110) of Chapter 9 of
Division 2 of, and Sections 25658, 25658.5, 25661, and 25662 of, the
Business and Professions Code.
   (2) Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and
Safety Code.
   (3) Section 191.5, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 192.5, and
subdivision (f) of Section 647 of the Penal Code.
   (4) Section 23103 when subject to Section 23103.5, Section 23140,
and Article 2 (commencing with Section 23152) of Chapter 12 of
Division 11 of this code.
   (e) Suspension, restriction, or delay of driving privileges
pursuant to this section shall be in addition to any penalty imposed
upon conviction of a violation specified in subdivision (d).


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption