Underage Drinking In Plain View But Behind Locked Doors

[traves012]

What is the name of your state?Pennsylvania

I am 19 years old and my friends and I have had a few run-ins with the cops and we are hoping to avoid any others.. We were just wondering if we were drinking, and the cops could see it in plain view, can they do anything? I heard they need a warrant, but what if they don't have one and the doors are locked and we don't answer them? Can they bust down the door to get in?

Thanks,
Matt

[CdwJava]

If it is a crime for minors to drink in your state, and the cops see it, then they are seeing a crime in progress and this is usually an exception to the warrant requirement.

Of course, if you want to play real tough with it, they can always pursue charges against the person that owns or controls the property for permitting underage drinking. So I hope that the tenant is willing to take one for the team.

- Carl

[traves012]

What if we dont answer the door when they come? Can they still enter the house? I doubt they are going to like kick in a door for a person holding a beer.. but I dont know much about our rights.. or theirs for that matter..

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by traves012

What if we dont answer the door when they come? Can they still enter the house? I doubt they are going to like kick in a door for a person holding a beer.. but I dont know much about our rights.. or theirs for that matter..

**A: Ok, the next time you have a party call the cops and say that you are holding beers and are under age. See what the cops do.

[traves012]

Well come on now that's just silly.. Can they enter if the door is locked and no one answers it?

Q: We were just wondering if we were drinking, and the cops could see it in plain view, can they do anything?
A: Yes, they can arrest you.

Q: I heard they need a warrant, but what if they don't have one and the doors are locked and we don't answer them?
A: They can bust down the door to get in.

Q: Can they bust down the door to get in?
A: Yes.

Q: What if we dont answer the door when they come?
A: They can bust down the door to get in.

Q: Can they still enter the house?
A: They can bust down the door to get in.

[traves012]

IM so sorry to keep bothering with this..but in your honest opinion do you think the cops will bust down the door in a small town for people who are all about 20 yrs. old that they see drinking?

[ENASNI]

Originally Posted by traves012

IM so sorry to keep bothering with this..but in your honest opinion do you think the cops will bust down the door in a small town for people who are all about 20 yrs. old that they see drinking?

I say it depends on how badly he or she wants a beer...


(sorry Carl)

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by traves012

IM so sorry to keep bothering with this..but in your honest opinion do you think the cops will bust down the door in a small town for people who are all about 20 yrs. old that they see drinking?

I can answer that one - as I work in a small town!

No, we probably wouldn't kick the door down. But! We would file charges with the DA, we would file charges against the tenant, we would notify the property owner that his property is being used for illegal activity and possibly subject to abatement if it continues, and we just might decide to force the door down anyway.

Bottom line, if you are going to have little underage drinking parties, do it behind closed doors and windows, keep everyone inside (it's bad news to have 19 and 20 year old drunks stumbling from your house), and keep the people to a handful of close friends. Large groups attract attention when they get noisy, stupid, and tell the world where they get ripped in Friday nights.

- Carl

Q: but in your honest opinion do you think the cops will bust down the door in a small town for people who are all about 20 yrs. old that they see drinking?
A: Yes, if they see doughnuts.

Really (Carl, turn your head) I did lots of underaged drinking and I NEVER got caught because I was very, VERY careful. (Carl, turn your head back.)

[traves012]

Hey thanks for the help..We try to keep it to only a few people..but then everyone and their cousin shows up..and it gets rowdy.. We will just have to hope the cops dont even show up..

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by ENASNI

I say it depends on how badly he or she wants a beer...


(sorry Carl)

If its a warm day, the odds go up.

Seriously, though, we probably are not going to kick doors down. But in a small town, its almost a guarantee that SOMEONE will call about all the underage drinking that is going on. That will require the police to eventually act on it.

If they are just driving by, unless they really want to find a reason to go in and talk to someone of interest, they probably aren't going to waste any time with it.

- Carl

Originally Posted by traves012

Hey thanks for the help..We try to keep it to only a few people..but then everyone and their cousin shows up..and it gets rowdy.. We will just have to hope the cops dont even show up..

Tell the cousins and their dogs to stay home and watch Dukes of Hazzard. In fact, they should videotape and just watch the parts with Daisy...or watch Daisy's parts...whatever.

[TomHartmann]

Originally Posted by CdwJava

If it is a crime for minors to drink in your state, and the cops see it, then they are seeing a crime in progress and this is usually an exception to the warrant requirement.

Of course, if you want to play real tough with it, they can always pursue charges against the person that owns or controls the property for permitting underage drinking. So I hope that the tenant is willing to take one for the team.

- Carl

Carl,
No offense, but are you saying that there is a state or two that allowed drinkings for under 21 years old? In fact, I though all of 50 states's requirements are 21 years or above? The reason why I asked you because you said "IF it is a crime for minors to drink in your state.."

- Tom

Is the drinking age 18 in Louisiana?