Underage Drinking Tickets

Traffic tickets are simply “citations,” which means that they are not as severe as in the case of misdemeanour or felony crimes. You may be given underage drinking tickets when you violate any of the underage drinking laws imposed in a certain state and although tickets concerning underage drinking are not as grave as other charges, they will still be prosecuted through the court, just like any other kind of law violation.

Underage drinking tickets can be a non-traffic citation, violations on the possession, purchase or consumption of alcohol or it may be a traffic citation and this may include violations such as speeding, driving under the influence or beating the red light.[1]

In both cases, your parents as well as the office of judicial affairs will be notified about the offense through a letter. Disciplinary charges and other sanctions may be given. And you have three choices on how you are going to respond to the charges:

1. Pleading that you are not guilty and requesting for a hearing
2. Pleading guilty and pay the fine set by the state. This can be up to several hundred dollars
3. Apply for the Minors Diversionary Program

If you do not respond within TEN days, you will be arrested and the police will take you into custody and bring you to the magisterial district judge’s office.[2]

This system of underage drinking tickets reduces the load on the criminal justice system. It is an avenue that could be beneficial for both parties, the justice system as well as the minor in question. If every minor who breaches the law were given a full criminal trial, it would be too much to handle for everyone involved in the case.

In reality, these infractions are relatively minor. No matter how “minor” your charges were, records remain. Underage drinking tickets must be avoided at all costs.