Minor Consumption in MN

[braamold]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MN
My son, 16, was cited for minor consumption at a festival last night. The statute listed was 340A.50(1)(a)(1) and not 340A.503(1)(a)(1).
1.) Can we beat that on a technicality?
2.) The summons lists a court date and I assume if we pay a fine beforehand, it's simply admission of guilt right?
3.) They had wristbands, but I learned he and a friend got adult ones for which we haven't seen proof of. Can anything be disputed here?
4.) Took place in another county
5.) No driving involved

Thanks for your time,
Braamold

 

[cyjeff]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MN
My son, 16, was cited for minor consumption at a festival last night. The statute listed was 340A.50(1)(a)(1) and not 340A.503(1)(a)(1).
1.) Can we beat that on a technicality?

What, on the statute number? No.

2.) The summons lists a court date and I assume if we pay a fine beforehand, it's simply admission of guilt right?

Correct... if allowed to mail it in. I am thinking that he MUST appear.

3.) They had wristbands, but I learned he and a friend got adult ones for which we haven't seen proof of. Can anything be disputed here?

That your son lied his way into an adult wristband or that he had a fake ID?

Still doesn't give your son a pass to drink... even if he was accidentally given the wrong wristbands. After all, HE still knew how old he was, right?

4.) Took place in another county

Okay.

5.) No driving involved

Which is why he wasn't charged with DUI.

I say this as a parent.... you seem to be looking for a way to excuse this behavior instead of using it as a learning opportunity....

 

[braamold]

We are not excusing his behavior and he understands what he did was wrong, unlawful, and inexcusible. Just learned the wristbands were obtained offsite with no knowledge that they were adult, only that they provided admission to the event which was for all ages. Still no excuse though.

He also knows the consequences that will be brought down on him and his bank account. He'll have to swallow this bitter pill and we may be looking into counseling. First time offender, but this won't go by unnoticed.

Thanks for the reply, we truly care that our kids are making the right decisions and hope that we are leading by example in a positive way. There's many influences & distractions out there, more than we had growing up I guess...or maybe they are more magnified in this microscopic world we live in.

 

[Antigone*]

We are not excusing his behavior and he understands what he did was wrong, unlawful, and inexcusible. Just learned the wristbands were obtained offsite with no knowledge that they were adult, only that they provided admission to the event which was for all ages. Still no excuse though.

He also knows the consequences that will be brought down on him and his bank account. He'll have to swallow this bitter pill and we may be looking into counseling. First time offender, but this won't go by unnoticed.

Thanks for the reply, we truly care that our kids are making the right decisions and hope that we are leading by example in a positive way. There's many influences & distractions out there, more than we had growing up I guess...or maybe they are more magnified in this microscopic world we live in.

If you really cared about your son being a person of good character you would not be looking for a technicality

Leading by example huh....

 

[stealth2]

First time offender

First time he drank, or first time he got caught? And I'm betting he and his buddy knew darn well that those wristbands would get them booze. So I'll also wager that this is just the first time he got caught.

 

[mistoffolees]

We are not excusing his behavior and he understands what he did was wrong, unlawful, and inexcusible.

Then, as a good parent, you should be helping to ensure that he suffers the consequences of his actions - rather than trying to get him off.

If you manage to get him off this time, chances are it will be something worse next time (can you say "DUI"? with maybe an innocent bystander injured or worse?).

This sounds like a relatively mild way for him to start learning that there are consequences to stupid decisions.