Everyone makes mistakes, and at times, those mistakes violate the law. Whether you are unfairly facing minor in possession of alcohol charges, or you simply made a mistake, our Cobb County minor in possession lawyer is here to help. Continue reading and contact the Miller Law Practice, LLC to learn more about how our firm can fight your charges.

Do I Need a Cobb County Minor in Possession Lawyer?

Minor in possession charges can carry heavy, long-term implications that can follow a young person for years to come, which is why if you are facing MIP charges, you must retain the services of a seasoned Cobb County criminal defense lawyer today. You have just found that lawyer here at the Miller Law Practice, LLC.

Consequences of Being a Minor in Possession of Alcohol

If you or your child is currently facing minor in possession of alcohol charges, there is a wide array of consequences that either you or your child may face. To start, this is generally considered a misdemeanor crime, for which the convicted person may face up to six months in jail and a potential $300 fine under O.C.G.A. § 3-3-23. Furthermore, when someone faces minor in possession charges, the court may order them to complete an alcohol and drug risk reduction program within 120 days. Depending on the specific charge, a license suspension may also follow. Because these outcomes do not apply to every MIP case, those who are facing minor in possession charges must not proceed without the assistance of a knowledgeable Cobb County criminal defense lawyer who can work to mitigate their charges, or, in the best cases, have them dropped altogether.

Will My Child Lose Their License?

This is the first question most parents ask, and the answer depends entirely on which underage alcohol charge was written on the citation. They are not interchangeable.

Simple Possession

A conviction for knowingly possessing alcohol under 21 — standing at a party, holding a cup, alcohol found in a bag — is generally not a reportable offense to the Department of Driver Services when no vehicle is involved. In that situation, no mandatory license suspension follows.

Possession While Operating a Vehicle

If the alcohol was possessed while your child was driving, the conviction becomes reportable and a suspension of at least 120 days may follow.

Purchasing or Attempting to Purchase

This is the charge that carries the harshest license consequence: a six-month suspension on a first conviction, and a full year on a second. A fake ID at a liquor store counter is a different offense, legally, than a beer at a party.

Reading the citation carefully is the first thing we do, because the charge that was actually written determines what is at stake.

Defenses Against Minor in Possession of Alcohol Charges

Fortunately, in many cases, with the assistance of a Georgia minor in possession lawyer, as long as this was your first arrest, you may qualify for pretrial diversion, which essentially means that as long as you comply with an alcohol addiction evaluation, community service, and alcohol/drug screening, among other conditions, your case may be dismissed. In other cases, our firm may enter a Conditional Discharge or a First Offender plea on your behalf, which essentially means that, in exchange for being placed on probation with conditions similar to pretrial diversion, your minor in possession conviction may have its record restricted under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37. Furthermore, if we can prove that the charges you are facing are simply untrue, we may have the charges dropped altogether.

Contact Our Cobb County Minor in Possession Lawyer

There are few things worse than starting off your life with a criminal record, and if you or your child is currently facing minor in possession of alcohol charges, now is the time to act. Contact the Miller Law Practice, LLC to schedule your initial consultation with our firm.