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    I Got a Possession of Alcohol / Marijuana Ticket at a Concert in Connecticut. Now What?

    I Got a Possession of Alcohol / Marijuana Ticket at a Concert in Connecticut. Now What?

     

    Connecticut teenagers and college students look forward to the summer – school’s out, their friends are back in town, and musicians from all over come to play concerts nearly every weekend. Hartford, Connecticut is home to the XL Center and Xfinity Theater – formerly known as the “Meadows.” And as anyone who has been to an outdoor concert knows, the party can start well before the concert, with tailgating, hanging out in the parking lot, and sometimes, drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana by minors. As a reminder, no person under 21 years old may possess or use alcohol or marijuana in Connecticut. 

    Concert venue operators would probably prefer to turn a blind eye to these activities, but the risks of injury, lawsuits, and crimes associated with excessive underage drinking and marijuana use have left Xfinity Meadows operators and Hartford police with no choice but to aggressively prosecute teenagers ticketed for Minor in Possession under 30-89 and Illegal Possession of Marijuana under CGS 21a-279a. Thankfully, however, the best Hartford criminal lawyers and attorneys have figured out how to beat these tickets.

    So, what’s the secret to fighting a Hartford Connecticut ticket for Minor in Possession of Alcohol or Marijuana? Keep reading to find out…

    DO NOT JUST PAY THE MINOR IN POSSESSION / ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA TICKET BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT YOUR PARENTS TO FIND OUT!

    The top criminal lawyers and attorneys in Hartford Connecticut frequently see teenagers and college students just pay the Minor in Possession ticket / Illegal Possession of Marijuana ticket by mail because (1) they don’t want their parents to find out, and (2) they believe that since they were technically guilty, then they could not possibly be able to beat the ticket. Terrible idea. Here’s why: the long-term consequences are much worse than paying the fine or getting a lecture or punishment from your parents. The guilty infraction plea by mail will stay on your record and background checks for many, many years, which can detrimentally impact future employment prospects. So, if you have already paid the fine and pled guilty by mail to a Connecticut possession of alcohol or illegal possession of marijuana ticket, then call our firm to learn if and how you might be able to reverse it.

    What if You or Your Child Gets a Minor in Possession Ticket at Xfinity Theater or XL Center in Hartford?

    Top Hartford Connecticut Minor in Possession lawyers typically get an influx of calls after a concert weekend at the Xfinity Meadows Theater, XL Center or Lake Compounce. If you or your child has been ticketed for a CGS 30-89 Minor in Possession ticket or a Hartford 4-3 Open Container ticket at Xfinity Theater, XL Center, Lake Compounce or any other concert venue, know that she has been charged with an infraction in Connecticut. The best Hartford Connecticut Minor in Possession / Illegal Marijuana Possession criminal lawyers and attorneys in Connecticut can then appear in court with you or your child and work with prosecutors to resolve the case without a guilty plea.

    Enforcement of Underage Drinking and Illegal Possession of Marijuana Laws in Hartford & Xfinity Theater

    In an effort to curb minors in possession of alcohol and marijuana at the Xfinity Theater and on the University of Hartford campus, the City of Hartford Connecticut passed its own city ordinance, § 4-3, which prohibits open containers of alcohol on any public highway or public area and in any parking area in Hartford. As the top Hartford Connecticut criminal law firms understand, the law allows officers to give tickets to teenagers drinking in parking lots around the Xfinity Theater. In addition, Connecticut state law provides Hartford police officers with the authority to issue tickets to anyone under 21 for possession of alcohol under C.G.S. § 30-89(b), or illegal possession of marijuana under C.G.S. 21a-279a. Xfinity Theater, the XL Center and Hartford Police have collaborated to assemble a team of undercover officers at these concerts, working together to catch concertgoers who are indulging in alcohol, drugs and narcotics. Their goal, of course, is to save lives and ensure the safety of all concertgoers. However, the top Hartford Connecticut criminal attorneys would argue that alternative deterrence methods should certainly be used rather than hauling teenagers to court, publicly shaming them, and punishing them with permanent conviction records.

    Contact a Connecticut Possession of Alcohol or Illegal Possession of Marijuana Attorney Today

    At Mark Sherman Law, we offer a team of Connecticut Minor in Possession / Marijuana Possession criminal lawyers and attorneys who have years of experience in assisting families and their teenagers with resolving alcohol and marijuana tickets without a guilty plea or permanent conviction record. We understand the dangers of teenage experimentation and appreciate how stressful dealing with the police can be. For even more information, you can follow this link to learn more about fighting Connecticut Minor in Possession tickets. So, if you or your child received a Connecticut 30-89 Minor in Possession of Alcohol ticket or 21a-279a Illegal Marijuana Possession ticket in Hartford, at the XL Center, Meadows or Lake Compounce, then contact us today. We are available 24 / 7.