Underage Drinking Attorney in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
A top criminal defense lawyer should be consulted as soon as possible if a person under the age of 21 is charged with underage drinking. While the police in southeastern Pennsylvania cannot arrest you for underage drinking unless you are violent, disorderly, or very drunk, you will receive a citation and a conviction can have serious consequences. If you are convicted of underage drinking, it will go on your driving record.
Teenagers have experimented with alcohol for as long as alcohol has been around. But the police no longer dump out your beer and send you home. Police now issue citations to high school and college students under the age of 21 for purchasing, attempting to purchase, possessing, transporting, and/or using alcohol. If you are under eighteen, they will also notify your parents. William DeNardo is a top criminal defense lawyer with extensive experience defending teenagers and young adults against this type of charge.
While a BAC of .08 is the legal limit in Pennsylvania, no amount of alcohol is allowable in a person under the age of 21. The results of a preliminary breathalyzer test can be used in a charge of Underage Drinking because the police in a charge of underage drinking to determine if ANY amount of alcohol was consumed.
Legal penalties for a first offense of underage drinking in Pennsylvania include a driver's license suspension of 90 days, even if the accused was nowhere near a car. If the person does not have a license or learner's permit, they are prohibited from applying for one for the same 90 day period. There will also be fines and court costs exceeding $400.
A citation issued by the police must be responded to within ten days. It is very important to discuss your specific situation with a Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer before responding to the citation. A Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer can help you decide how to respond and can determine if the evidence against you was obtained properly.
Kids make mistakes. And the loss of their license can have serious effects, including the loss of job and educational opportunities. Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer William DeNardo uses his experience defending those charged with underage drinking in southeastern Pennsylvania. Allow him to help you so the charges don't haunt you for years to come. If you have been charged with underage drinking please contact William DeNardo today to discuss your situation.