Underage Alcohol and/or License Violations
Underage Drinking Defense Lawyer in Charlotte
Separate from juvenile crime, there are many types of cases that fall under the heading of underage violations. Most of these are alcohol-related and can have very serious consequences for the underage individual that has been charged.
At the Law Office of Christopher A. Connelly in Charlotte, North Carolina, our firm is lead by experienced attorney Chris Connelly. He has over 25 years of experience handling a range of criminal defense matters, including underage drinking violations, for clients in many different communities. Mr. Connelly handles each case personally and our entire firm works hard to ensure that your rights are protected and that your best interests are served.
If you have been suspected of underage drinking or alcohol possession, do not talk to police. Talk to your attorney first. Contact our Charlotte firm to arrange a consultation.
Underage Alcohol and/or License Violations
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Teens and college students are often peer pressured into drinking, just to go along with the crowd. What the crowd may not realize is that underage drinking and/or getting behind the wheel of a car can have consequences that can devastate for a long time. A conviction may be left on your record forever, you may be facing a suspended or revoked license until you turn 21, and jail time and fines are always possible punishments for underage alcohol possession and/or consumption. You may also incur points that affect your license and insurance, if the license is not taken away completely. It is important that you turn to a lawyer that is experienced and trustworthy in order to take these charges head on and fight for your rights.
If you are stopped for suspicion of DWI / drunk driving or Underage Alcohol Possession/Consumption, you may be subjected to an Alco-Sensor or Intox EC/ER-II test. Regardless of your blood alcohol content (BAC), you may be facing criminal charges as a result of your age and illegal consumption of alcohol.
In addition to underage drinking, we handle other specific types of underage charges related to drinking, including:
- Driving By Person less than 21 years of age After Consuming Alcohol (also knows as Driving After Consuming Being Under 21, underage DWI / DUI / drinking and driving) NCGS 20-138.3
- Sale or Purchase by underage persons (NCGS 18B-302)
- Using Fake Identification (NCGS 18B-302)
DWI
Effective for offenses committed on or after December 1, 2011, a person convicted of impaired driving must be sentenced at Level One punishment (mandating a 30 day minimum in jail, maximum of 2 years in jail) of there was a child under chronological age 18 OR an adult with the mental development of a child under age 18 OR a person with a physical disability that prevented them from exiting the vehicle on their own.
Stopping patterns at vehicle checkpoints.
Effective December 1, 2011, the law now requires law enforcement agencies to designate in advance a pattern for stopping vehicles at checkpoints AND also prohibits law enforcement from basing a stopping pattern on a particular vehicle
Laura's Law
Effective December 1, 2011, the onerous "Laura's Law" could even increase punishment for a second-time DWI offense by establishing an "Aggravated Level One" punishment. This law mandates 12 months in prison if there are three or more Grossly Aggravating factors. Some of the more onerous applications that would require one year in jail would be if the defendant had a prior conviction from six years ago, never resolved their DWI related suspension and had a child in the car OR had two prior convictions from 6 years ago and never resolved their DWI related suspension. The defendant who receives this sentence of imprisonment must be released four months before the end of the maximum and be placed on post-release supervision. They must abstain from alcohol during this period and it must be verified by 24/7 monitoring system.
"Laura's Law" also provides for a permanent license revocation for this defendant and requires an ignition interlock if the person's license is restored.
Effective for offenses committed on or after January 1, 2012 a new statute provides for a civil revocation of a limited learner's permit or provisional license of a person under age 18 if the person is charged with a "criminal moving violation" as defined in that statute. An example of this could be a Speeding more than 15 miles over the limit or in excess of 80 MPH. This new statute appears to require the officer to arrest the young motorist and bring them before the magistrate who may immediately revoke their privilege.
When your case is important to you...
When experience counts...
Call 704-376-9376 or e-mail our Charlotte office to schedule a consultation with our lawyer to further discuss your underage drinking violation or other underage charge.
The Law Office of Christopher A. Connelly
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Criminal Defense Attorney
Reasonable Fees ▪ Payment Plans ▪ Credit Cards Accepted ▪ Se habla español
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