Got in some trouble with the law a few days ago

[kstu]

so the other night we had a small get together at my townhouse which we bought a couple kegs for. everything was going good until the cops came into the area. my roomates friend from back home was charged with an open container violation just in front of our place. i thought that was end of our cop troubles because its rare to see cops in our neighborhood and even rarer to see them break up parties.

about 30 minutes later word spreads that the cops are out back (we have a small deck with a couple feet of grass behind our townhouse) looking for someone who lives in the house. i step outside to see two police officers standing on our deck and ask what the problem is. he says hes goin to charge us for a keg violation because the registration stickers are off of the kegs (i was unaware of this fact when i stepped outside). the guy cop asks for my license and i oblige (thinking cooperation would work out for the best in this situation, because ive been to many a party where the cops show and just ask everyone to leave). by the way, im only 20, so you can see where this is going. he says he can either charge me or the person who bought the kegs (which would mean him getting a charge of distribution to a minor). i end up taking the blame, along with getting charged with underage possession of alcohol.

im thinking about talking to a lawyer about this, but the only thing holding me back is the fact that i think it will be hard to dispute the charges. the only thing i can think of would be that the cop did not have reasonable cause to trespass on the property behind our house. the townhouses are arranged in rows, so you would really need a reason to decide to walk behind our house.

oh well, im going to have a talk with billy bong thornton and forget my troubles for awhile.


cliffs notes:
threw a party
cops showed up

 

[minendo]

It will be cheaper to just pay the fine and do the community service.

Believe me, I know.

 

[Ness]

Perhaps you shouldn't throw keggers when you are underage. That one usually works out pretty well.

Aside from that, you can't prove that they cops weren't invited into the yard by one of the party goers, which, although technically not authorized to give that permission, justifys it.


Mostly you should own up to the fact that you got busted and deal with the reprecussions.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

If he could see something of that sort from the sidewalk I don't think you can use it against him for catching it

 

[brxndxn]

You oughta at least see a public defender. You might be able to get the charges thrown out since the cops shouldn't have been there.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: minendo
It will be cheaper to just pay the fine and do the community service.

Believe me, I know.

yep....an MIP is no big deal, matter of fact, its a right of passage into adulthood.

They could have charged you with much worse, just pay up and move on.

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: minendo
It will be cheaper to just pay the fine and do the community service.

Believe me, I know.

out of couriousity... could u define "cheap" in the context you used?

 

[tnitsuj]

oh well, im going to have a talk with billy bong thornton and forget my troubles for awhile.

I see you are well on your way to learning your lesson aren't you????

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: minendo
It will be cheaper to just pay the fine and do the community service.

Believe me, I know.

out of couriousity... could u define "cheap" in the context you used?

Total costs in my case. $50 for court costs, $50 for diversion agreement, $150 for alcohol awareness class.

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: spanky

Originally posted by: minendo
It will be cheaper to just pay the fine and do the community service.

Believe me, I know.

out of couriousity... could u define "cheap" in the context you used?

Total costs in my case. $50 for court costs, $50 for diversion agreement, $150 for alcohol awareness class.

That is incredibly cheap. Where I am for adults that would be well over $2000 dollars in fines and court costs. Juveniles are substantially less for a 1st offense.

 

[kstu]

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
oh well, im going to have a talk with billy bong thornton and forget my troubles for awhile.

I see you are well on your way to learning your lesson aren't you????

sorry i meant bill bob thornton, just watching a little Armageddon, great movie

 

[Greg03]

Originally posted by: Ness
Perhaps you shouldn't throw keggers when you are underage. That one usually works out pretty well.

Aside from that, you can't prove that they cops weren't invited into the yard by one of the party goers, which, although technically not authorized to give that permission, justifys it.


Mostly you should own up to the fact that you got busted and deal with the reprecussions.

A friend of mine in grad school threw one...add in one underage girl assaulted, plus a civil lawsuit and come up with a $50,000 beer bash. Ah, they should all end up like that.

 

[Ornery]

"i end up taking the blame..."

Take it like a man, or take your troubles elsewhere. This is simply the consequences of your decisions.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Don't drink underage, problem solved. Don't hit the reefer either.

 

[Thoreau]

pwned

 

[ScottMac]

If the neighbors called it in, the police have "reasonable suspicion" that underage drinking was occurring and they can investigate.

They may also have seen enough while writing up the people for the open container violations to warrant investigation ... or the people being written up may have said something.

Go ahead and talk to the lawyer, but tell him EVERYTHING so you get a valid opinion .... or it might end up costing you some significant bucks.

FWIW

Scott

 

[brigden]

I was charged with drinking underage four or five times. Twice I had the fine reduced by a Justice, and on the last occasion, I told the officer I had no ID (lied) and when he asked for my info, I gave him everything straight up, but deliberately spelt my last name wrong by one letter. I tore up the fine once he was out of sight. I never received another notice.

 

[her209]

Tell the judge that the officers asked for a cup and you refused.

 

If the violation(s) were viewable from public property (in this case, the sidewalk, or a neighbor's yard if the officers got the person's consent to be on their property) then you'll have no chance in court.