Underage Drinking

[at0mheartmother]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Maryland

I don't know whether this falls under juvenile law or not
My friends (both over 21) and I (19) went out drinking together the other night. I drove us all out, but did not start drinking until my car was parked, and I was inside the place. After a couple of drinks I decided that I would not drive any more that evening because by the time we left I would probably not be under the legal limit. So my one friend only had one beer, and since he was over 21 that was legal. When we were leaving I handed him the keys to my car and he was going to drive us all back to my other friends place where I would sleep for a few hours until I was ready to drive again. We got pulled over on the way back to my friend's house for speeding. Since the officer smelled alcohol, and I was not driving my own car, both my friend and I had to blow into the breathalizer. I admitted to drinking, and blew a .09, and my friend blew under the limit. He got a speeding ticket and I got a $500 fine. Is there anything that I can do about this? How much would it cost to hire a lawyer for this case? What is the worst that can happen? Will the insurance company/court contact my parents?

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Maryland

I don't know whether this falls under juvenile law or not
My friends (both over 21) and I (19) went out drinking together the other night. I drove us all out, but did not start drinking until my car was parked, and I was inside the place. After a couple of drinks I decided that I would not drive any more that evening because by the time we left I would probably not be under the legal limit. So my one friend only had one beer, and since he was over 21 that was legal. When we were leaving I handed him the keys to my car and he was going to drive us all back to my other friends place where I would sleep for a few hours until I was ready to drive again. We got pulled over on the way back to my friend's house for speeding. Since the officer smelled alcohol, and I was not driving my own car, both my friend and I had to blow into the breathalizer. I admitted to drinking, and blew a .09, and my friend blew under the limit. He got a speeding ticket and I got a $500 fine. Is there anything that I can do about this? How much would it cost to hire a lawyer for this case? What is the worst that can happen? Will the insurance company/court contact my parents?

What can you do about this ~ You can modify your behaviour so that in the future. Don't drink until you are 21.

Sure you can get an attorney, but it will cost you more than the fine.

The insurance company will most likely jack your parents rates so they will definitely find out.

You should tell them yourself. Nothing ticks a parent off more than to find out about your child's misbehaviour from an outside source.

 

[at0mheartmother]

will they contact me or am i supposed to call them?

 

[wyett717]

The insurance company will most likely jack your parents rates so they will definitely find out.

The moving violation will be on the driver's record, not the OP's, so his insurance will likely not be affected.

Regardless, OP - be up front with those who need to know, including your parents, employers, etc. Dishonesty will get you nowhere quickly.

 

[Antigone*]

The moving violation will be on the driver's record, not the OP's, so his insurance will likely not be affected.

Regardless, OP - be up front with those who need to know, including your parents, employers, etc. Dishonesty will get you nowhere quickly.

Youa re correct wyett... I stand corrected

 

[at0mheartmother]

The moving violation will be on the driver's record, not the OP's, so his insurance will likely not be affected.

Regardless, OP - be up front with those who need to know, including your parents, employers, etc. Dishonesty will get you nowhere quickly.

i mean, i plan on telling my parents but i just didn't want them to find out from an outside source before i told them. i'm just looking for the right opportunity to tell them, and the right way. they know that i went out drinking that night and that was why i slept at my friends place for a bit, so that won't be an issue. the only thing is we are very tight on money right now and my fine is $500 so i'm going to try to take some community service hours and maybe one of those alcohol classes? I plan on dealing with this mostly on my own,but i may need my parents help with some things. they know a lot about the law.