Underage Drinking Ticket

An underage drinking ticket in Mecklenburg County may have serious implications on your future. A police officer may issue a drinking ticket to an underage person if they have probable cause that the underage person has any amount of alcohol in their system, no matter how little.

Typically, the officer will administer an Alcosensor breath test to the teenager. This instrument is able to give the officer a reading of how much, if any, alcohol is in the teenager’s system. Any positive results on the Alcosensor may be enough is issue a drinking citation to a teenager.

Even if the police officer doesn’t use an Alcosensor, all the police officer needs to establish probable cause is observation. If the police officer can testify that a teenager appeared to be under the influence of alcohol because they were unstable on their feet, had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and / or the odor of alcohol on the breath and person, the police officer has enough evidence to issue a citation, or make an arrest, for underage drinking.

If you were issued a citation for underage drinking, it is highly recommended that you consult with a criminal lawyer. A lawyer may be able to negotiate a deal with the state to have your charges dismissed. Typically, a teenager charged with underage drinking is eligible to complete a drug education school to receive this dismissal. A lawyer will be able to appear in court on your behalf and negotiate this without you ever having to go to court.

Once the class has been completed and you have received a dismissal, you need to speak with your criminal attorney about obtaining an expunction. If you’re eligible, an expunction will erase all records of you having been charged with the offense. This is very important for teenagers applying to colleges and seeking jobs.

If you would like to speak with a criminal attorney concerning an underage drinking ticket in Mecklenburg County, contact Adkins Law. Adkins Law is located in Huntersville, and primarily serves Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the Lake Norman area.  

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