Hope That Beer was Tasty

Costs and repercussions of underage drinking tickets

Getting a Ticket

  1. Purchase, Consumption, or Possession of BEER, WINE, or LIQUOR by a Person Under Age 21
  2. No more than30 days in jail
  3. Fines and costs exceeding $400.00
  4. Successful completion DAODAS approved alcohol prevention program of a minimum of 8 hours and costs not to exceed $150.00
  5. Driver’s license suspension for 120 days for a first offense; suspension for one year for a second offense
  6. Possible loss of scholarship and/or financial aid

Diversion program options

If ticketed for possession of alcohol, an open container, or a fake ID, many courts offer the option of

participating in a diversion program that includes educational components. Upon completion, the

courts will expunge the record so that, technically, you no longer have a criminal record. As expected,

for a privilege that could save your future career, you will have to bring something to the table –

MONEY. Is avoiding a criminal record worth at least $500?

If you cooperate with the officer, AND the officer approves, AND it is your first offense, you MAY be eligible for these diversion programs:

  1. Alcohol Education Program, to successfully complete AEP, you must:
  • Pay a $250 enrollment fee
  • Attend 4 one-hour counseling sessions, at a cost of $100 each($400 total)
  1. Pre-Trial Intervention, to successfully complete PTI, you must:
  • Pay a $100 application fee to be considered as a candidate for the course
  • Pay a $250 participation fee prior to completion of the course
  • Complete 30-50 community service hours
  • Submit to random drug tests (typically $30-40 per test)
  • Attend a series of classes related to their infraction (usually 4)
  • Pay a fee for each class they’re required to attend
  • Attend one “Get Smart” class, during which prisoners from the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center speak to students
  • Maintain contact with his/her case manager throughout the process
  • Additionally, students may be required to attend Narcotics Anonymous/Alcoholics Anonymous meetings

Once you’ve completed the program, you can petition to have your record expunged, at a cost of $185.

In total, being ticketed for an alcohol violation can cost at least $675, even if you don’t have a criminal record!

Penalties for Driving Under the Influence

  1. First Offense
  2. UP TO 3 MONTHS IN JAIL
  3. Fine and courts costs exceeding $2000.00
  4. A permanent criminal record
  5. 6 months driver’s license suspension
  6. Mandatory completion of ADSAP
  7. SR-22 Insurance for 3 years
  8. At least an additional 6 months suspension for a refusal to submit to breath or blood test. HOWEVER, criminal penalties increase as the breath or blood alcohol results increase.

A refusal cannot be used to enhance the criminal penalty. For example, a DUI, 1st offense with a refusal carries no more than 30 days in jail while a DUI, 1st offense with a .15% or higher reading carries up to 90 days in jail.

  1. Second Offense
  2. UP TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON
  3. Fine and court costs exceeding $7,000.00
  4. A one-year driver’s license suspension with no special driving privileges available
  5. Mandatory completion of ADSAP
  6. SR-22 Insurance
  7. A PERMANENT criminal record
  8. At least an additional 6 months suspension for a refusal to submit to breath or blood test. HOWEVER, criminal penalties increase as the breath or blood alcohol results increase.

A refusal cannot be used to enhance the criminal penalty. For example, a DUI 2nd offense with a refusal carries no more than 1 year in prison while a DUI 2nd offense with a .15% or higher reading carries up to 3 years in prison.