Greenwich Possession of Alcohol by Minor Lawyer
Getting a Possession of Alcohol by a Minor ticket in Greenwich Connecticut may not seem like a big deal, especially when the Greenwich cops who gave you the ticket tell you to just plead guilty by mail and send in the small fine. Sounds tempting, especially if you do it behind your parents’ backs so you don’t get into any trouble. But as the best criminal lawyers in Greenwich Connecticut know all too well, a guilty plea by mail to a Possession of Alcohol by a Minor CGS 30-89 ticket can not only result in a permanent conviction on your record, but also a driver’s license suspension and an increase in your auto insurance premiums. So on second thought, it’s sort of a big deal. So if you are considering fighting a Minor in Possession of Alcohol ticket in Greenwich, Connecticut, then contact a top Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyer attorney right away to find out how to get your ticket ripped up in Stamford Superior Court, and how to avoid a suspension of your Connecticut driver’s license.
Should I Plead Guilty By Mail to My Greenwich Connecticut 30-89 Possession of Alcohol Ticket?
Absolutely not. The best Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyers would agree that pleading guilty by mail to a CGS 30-89 Minor in Possession of Alcohol (or Marijuana) ticket is usually never a good idea. Most importantly, don’t be misled by the enticing language on the back of your Greenwich Connecticut possession of alcohol or marijuana ticket, which suggests that if you plead guilty, then it will be treated as a “nolo contendere”—or “no contest”—plea and you will not be assessed any DMV points. Be sure to note the fine print: while you may not get points, there are still DMV administrative sanctions that will get your Connecticut license suspended. So even though it is a hassle to plead not guilty and hire a top Greenwich Connecticut alcohol possession lawyer, you just may be able to avoid a conviction for CGS 30-89 on your record which will come up in employment background checks. It is just too competitive a job market out there for teenagers and college students to have Greenwich Connecticut Minor in Possession convictions come up during job interviews.
Can I Reverse My Guilty Plea by Mail to a Greenwich Alcohol Possession Ticket?
Yes! It’s one of the best kept secrets in the Connecticut court system—and what Greenwich police will conveniently not tell you…especially if you made the mistake of pleading guilty by mail to your Greenwich Connecticut Minor in Possession ticket. That’s right: you just may be able to reverse your guilty plea by mail to possession of alcohol or marijuana and still get your alcohol possession ticket dismissed. It’s certainly not an automatic reversal, but if you have decent grades, a good job, or a promising college-bound future, then your top Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyer attorney may just be able to reverse your guilty plea by mail and get your C.G.S. 30-89 Minor in Possession ticket dismissed.
Penalties for Possession of Alcohol Tickets in Greenwich Connecticut
The best Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyers know that Possession of Alcohol by a Minor is not a crime. It is an infraction, meaning that it is not punishable by jail time. But as explained in detail below, some of the penalties involve a hefty fine (up to $500), a driver’s license suspension for certain teenager offenders, and a permanent conviction for this possession infraction on all of your background checks. As the best Greenwich Connecticut juvenile crime lawyers know, any conviction on someone’s record (even for an infraction) can easily be misconstrued as a conviction for a crime, especially when employers and HR executives see the word “Possession.” So don’t take any chances—it’s worth the effort now to wipe the Possession of Alcohol ticket clean off your record by hiring a top Greenwich Connecticut criminal law firm to handle the ticket.
Can My Auto Insurance Rates Go Sky High for Greenwich Connecticut Minor in Possession Charges?
Definitely. Many teenagers and high school students in Greenwich Connecticut don’t really understand how automobile insurance is priced and underwritten. They are fortunate enough to just know that their parents are covering their auto insurance premiums for them. But what they fail to appreciate is that when they plead guilty by mail to a Greenwich Connecticut Possession of Alcohol or Marijuana ticket, the guilty plea will come up as a red flag during the annual auto insurance renewal background check. And most of the time, the “possession” conviction will trigger an unreasonable surge and increase in their auto insurance premiums which is very hard to rectify. In fact, many auto insurance carriers actually treat a Greenwich Connecticut Possession of Alcohol by a Minor 30-89 conviction as seriously as a Greenwich Connecticut DUI / DWI, and will hike up the premiums accordingly. So if you are thinking of just sending in your Greenwich Connecticut Minor in Possession ticket with a guilty plea and a fine, think again, especially for the sake of the people who are paying your auto insurance premium bills.
Your Driver’s License Can Get Suspended for Pleading Guilty to Minor in Possession Tickets in Greenwich Connecticut
As the best Greenwich Connecticut DMV Points lawyers and attorneys can explain to you, a guilty plea to a CGS 30-89 Minor in Possession ticket in Greenwich will result in a minimum 30 day suspension of your Connecticut driver’s license. If you’re a minor and the alcohol was discovered in your car, then it’s a 60 day suspension for your Greenwich Possession of Alcohol ticket. And if you don’t have a driver’s license, then top Greenwich Connecticut DMV Points lawyers know that the Connecticut DMV will suspend your right to apply for a Connecticut driver’s license for 150 days. By doing so, Connecticut lawmakers decided that while they won’t classify Greenwich Connecticut Possession of Alcohol tickets as criminal activity, they will make it sting for teenagers by taking away their driver’s licenses in Greenwich Connecticut. But remember, this is only upon a conviction or guilty plea by mail to your Greenwich Minor in Possession ticket…all the more reason to hire a top Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyer to help you get your Greenwich Minor in Possession ticket dismissed.
Fighting Your Greenwich Connecticut Possession of Alcohol Ticket in Court
So exactly how do the best Greenwich Connecticut juvenile criminal lawyers fight Greenwich Connecticut Possession of Alcohol tickets? Especially when your teenager tells you or the police that they are guilty and were actually in possession of alcohol. Thankfully, Stamford Superior Court prosecutors and judges who handle Greenwich Connecticut Minor in Possession tickets understand that teenagers will experiment with alcohol. If presented properly and persuasively to prosecutors by your top Greenwich Connecticut juvenile criminal attorney or lawyer, then they just may work out a deal where your ticket will get ripped up. Alternatively, the best Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyers will examine the police reports for mistakes, errors and search and seizure defects in the manner in which Greenwich Connecticut police seized the alcohol. In those cases, problems with the police case can lead to a favorable result and disposition for your Greenwich Connecticut 30-89 Possession of Alcohol or Marijuana ticket.
Criminal Exposure For Parents Hosting Alcohol Parties
Whenever teenagers or minors under 21 years old get tickets for possessing alcohol in Greenwich Connecticut, you don’t have to look too far to find adults assisting these teenagers in possessing and consuming alcohol. The top Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyers will point out that this recently has become a felony crime in Connecticut—specifically under penal code section CGS 30-86 – Providing or Distributing Alcohol to Minors. Many parents don’t realize that they are not allowed to serve alcohol within their home. It is illegal and is now a Class E felony, punishable by over a year in jail. In fact, an arrest for CGS 30-86 Providing Alcohol to Minors in Greenwich Connecticut can detrimentally interfere with your employment, immigration efforts, or travel in and out of the country. Additionally, Greenwich parents can face serious civil lawsuits and liability that threaten their financial assets if they have provided alcohol to minors who then injure other people or property. So if you have been arrested in Greenwich Connecticut for Providing Alcohol to Minors under CGS 30-86, or face a Social Hosting arrest in Greenwich Connecticut under CGS 30-89a, then contact a top Greenwich Connecticut criminal lawyer attorney right away.
Contact Us Today
After considering all of the above, deciding whether you should fight your Greenwich Connecticut Possession of Alcohol by a Minor 30-89 ticket is an easy decision. From a cost-benefit analysis, it is well worth spending a little time and money to hire a Greenwich Connecticut criminal law firm to help you get your ticket ripped up. Not only can you avoid a lengthy DMV suspension, but you can also keep your employment background checks clean and your insurance premiums affordably low. And you can likely get all this done with one phone call to the team of Greenwich Connecticut juvenile criminal lawyers at Mark Sherman Law today. So give us a call at (203) 358-4700 to get started today.