What would be the best way to fight my underage and public drunkenness citation?

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What would be the best way to fight my underage and public drunkenness citation?

My friend and I were walking home from a party that was getting busted when we were stopped on the street. The officer claims that we were “running” from him. He also made comments to me that he recognized me from a fake ID incident 10 months ago,  for which no charges were ever filed. My citation says that I was a threat to myself and those around me but how can the be when I was walking down the street? I really need some advice here because I’m a poor college student and can’t afford to hire a lawyer let alone face these fines.

Asked on November 22, 2011 under Criminal Law, Pennsylvania

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

The best way to defend the charges against you would be to retain a criminal defense attorney to represent you. If you cannot afford one, I would ask the court to appoint a public defender to represent you at the next hearing that you have on the matter. You will have to prove that you qualify for the appointment of a public defender.

You need to carefully review the police report concerning your arrest. It will assist in helping you get your defense in order. If you do not have any blood alcohol results from the arrest, then law enforcement will have a much harder time proving that you were guilty of the offense of being drunk in public.


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