If you’re going to get a drinking citation for underage drinking, please be drinking something better than White Claw.
College football season has returned to the Triangle, which means tailgates and after parties. College stadiums now can legally serve alcohol. A big part of college (besides that whole learning thing) is drinking at football games, right?
But, beware of the ABC agents lurking in the shadows. They are ready to ticket you for your open container or for possessing alcohol underage. They quickly swoop in and write you a ticket for your closed White Claw can before you even realize it. This ticket has a date to appear in the Wake County Justice Center. Sobering, isn’t it?
G.S. 18B-302(B)(1) sets out the law for possessing alcohol under 21 in North Carolina. It’s a Class 3 misdemeanor, which does carry a cost and fine if you are found guilty. Moreover, you cannot expunge the charge from your record for five years (assuming you do not receive any other convictions after that or have previous convictions). However, you can have this charge dismissed.
You might be eligible for the 90-96 program, which allows you to go through an alcohol assessment and approximately fifteen hours of alcohol and drug education classes. After six months and upon successful completion of the classes and payment of fines and costs, the charge will be dismissed. You can then expunge the charge from your record by paying the Wake County Clerk of Court $175.
You might want to take the case to trial if you think you were stopped or searched illegally. A Raleigh criminal defense attorney will be able to analyze your case and let you know of any possible defenses. There might be other ways to have the charge dismissed depending on the facts of your case.
If you have received a drinking ticket in Wake County, contact attorney William Pruden for a free consultation on your case at (919) 880-2124.
Remember, there actually are laws when you’re drinking Claws, so if you must drink do so responsibly and legally and drink quality alcohol.