Lowell Underage Drinking Attorney
Understanding the Consequences of Underage Drinking
In Massachusetts, it is unlawful for anyone under the age of 21 to possess alcohol, use a fake ID to obtain alcohol, to drive while under the influence of alcohol, or for a person to provide alcohol to someone under the age of 21. The penalties for underage drinking include fines, loss of your driver's license (regardless of whether you were arrested for DUI / OUI), and, in some cases, imprisonment. Additionally, an underage drinking conviction will increase the cost of a young person's car insurance and could affect college and employment options. More and more employers are conducting background checks that look for driver's license suspensions related to drug or alcohol arrests. At the Oberhauser Law Offices, we counsel and represent people arrested for underage drinking.
We’re committed to winning your case. We have represented countless clients in underage drinking cases. Our knowledge of proper police procedures, forensic issues, and constitutional limitations on what police officers can and cannot do, allows us to undermine the claims of the prosecution. Depending on your criminal history and the specifics of your case, we may be able to have the charges and penalties against your reduce or dismissed. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, contact underage drinking defense attorney Greg Oberhauser today.
Non-Driving Underage Drinking Violations
Massachusetts' zero-tolerance underage drinking policy means if you are caught using a fake ID or in possession of alcohol, you could have your license suspended. While the court may decide to fine you and sentence you to community service in lieu of license suspension, not all judges are willing to do so. If your license is suspended, you will have to petition the court to reinstate your license. Here, additional fees must be paid and certain restrictions may apply to your license. Furthermore, if the charges or sentence against you is not reduced, you will have a criminal conviction on your record that could affect employment opportunities, insurance costs, and college admissions.
Driving-Related Underage Drinking Violations
In Massachusetts, if you are under the age of 21 and pulled over for suspected drunk driving and if your blood alcohol content (BAC) registers above .02%, you will be charged with DUI / OUI, in addition to underage drinking. The penalties for underage DUI are as follows:
- Fines and court fees that could total more than $2,500
- License suspension for 210 days; if you refused to take a breathalyzer, you license could be suspended for 3 years
- One year probation
- If the judge decides your case warrants it, a maximum sentence of 2 and a half years in the House of Corrections
- Sixteen weeks of alcohol education; if your BAC was .20 or higher you must complete a two week inpatient alcohol treatment program
- No hardship license available
Burlington Juvenile Alcohol Consumption Lawyer
An underage drinking violation can be expensive, result in the loss of your license, and create substantial complications for you in other areas of your life. To discuss the options available to you, contact underage drinking defense attorney Greg Oberhauser today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.