Ocean City MD Underage Drinking Lawyer
Underage Drinking in Ocean City and during Senior Week is a serious matter. The Ocean City Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies heavily enforce underage drinking laws throughout the year. These cases need the assistance of Ocean City lawyer Brian H. Clark. He knows the terrain of Ocean City and the community like few others. He resides inside Ocean City throughout the busy season and understands how visitors of all ages are in town to have some fun and blow off some steam. When issues arise, Brian is here for you. There are a variety of alcohol offenses in Maryland, and the penalties for violations of these laws range from civil fines all the way to jail time. Most alcohol related offenses outside of DUI and DWI do not carry jail sentences upon a finding of guilt, but this does not mean they should be taken lightly. Citations for one of these offenses could seem like an inconvenience at first, but if they not handled properly these tickets could end up having a permanent impact on a person’s future.
The most common alcohol citations are those issued to minors and adults under the age of 21. Any violation of this provision will result in a civil citation with a mandatory court appearance. The maximum fine for a minor in possession of alcohol is $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat offenders, but the underage defendant also faces the possibility of being placed on probation by a district court judge. Although the citation is considered a civil matter, the probation term is treated the same way as a state criminal case. In addition, a person who is convicted of this offense faces the possibility of a permanent record of guilt to a civil violation and his case may show up on the state’s website for employers or others to see, unless the case is expunged. This outcome could have a negative effect on a minor’s future employment and educational prospects. An attorney can protect your rights throughout the process.
