17 and Need help asap

[InaBitOfTrouble]

What is the name of your state?Alabama

This past saturday i was arrested in Panama City Florida while on my spring break. I am 17 years old and a resident of Prattville Alabama. I was arrested ( put into handcuffs ) for unlawful possession of alchohol. I was not read my rights and given a citation. On the citation where is states that i must attent court was crossed out on the citation ( does that mean my ticket is bogus or just that i can mail my fine? ) They also did not fill out the court date and informed me that they will send me something through the mail with my court date and details. I am aware that if i do not attend court a warrant for my arrest will be posted in Panama City but will they come get me in Prattville Alabama? Also i have heard a bit of heresay that your record gets cleaned when you turn 18 and i will be 18 in july so i am curious if i even need to be worried about the ticket. any honest help would be appreciated... please no sarcasm .. i know what i did was stupid im just hoping to avoid problems .. thanks

 

[stealth2]

There should be a number on the ticket that you can call and ask if you'll be required to attend court or if you can simply pay the fine. And if you ignore it, no it will not go away when you turn 18. You played like an adult, now you pay like an adult.

 

[absconder]

Saint THERESA

Jeez give these kids a break, you were kid once remember grandma!!Were you a virgin when you got married?

 

[stealth2]

Jeez give these kids a break, you were kid once remember grandma!!Were you a virgin when you got married?

Well, I'm not a grandma yet. And while I wasn't a virgin on my wedding day, my husband was the only one I'd had sex with. AFTER we were engaged. And no, I never drank under age, never snuck into a bar before I was legal, never tried drugs, have never been arrested, and have only received one traffic ticket. Next question? The point is, the kid KNEW at 17 that s/he couldn't legally drink. S/he chose to and got caught. So..... there are consequences.

 

[Wolflmg]

Well, I'm not a grandma yet. And while I wasn't a virgin on my wedding day, my husband was the only one I'd had sex with. AFTER we were engaged. And no, I never drank under age, never snuck into a bar before I was legal, never tried drugs, have never been arrested, and have only received one traffic ticket. Next question? The point is, the kid KNEW at 17 that s/he couldn't legally drink. S/he chose to and got caught. So..... there are consequences.

I agree. If we give this kid a break, then we would have to give them all a break and then they would never learn.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

While there may not be a date on the citation, that is because of the larger than normal number of arrests during spring break so the courts will most likely spread things out. Call the court. Also expect that you may lose your drivers license for this offense and have higher insurance rates because you are a minor so you will also need ot get an attorney.

 

[InaBitOfTrouble]

@ stealth im sorry you never had any fun when you were a teenager lol but please no need to bring me down with ur negative input... Today im going to try and meet with a friend of mines dad who works for the DEA he may be able to get me out of the ticket completely which would be nice. Also are you sure they can take my license for possession? i had no intent of driving after i had been drinking so how can this affect my insurance and my license being revoked? also i appreciated the constuctive feedback.... please more info if possible

 

[absconder]

Dea

If the DEA agent interferes in anyway he could lose his job and end up in court with you.

 

[InaBitOfTrouble]

also on my ticket it has a number to call for traffic court and a # to call for criminal.... isnt mine a misdemeanor?

 

[Wolflmg]

@ stealth im sorry you never had any fun when you were a teenager lol but please no need to bring me down with ur negative input... Today im going to try and meet with a friend of mines dad who works for the DEA he may be able to get me out of the ticket completely which would be nice. Also are you sure they can take my license for possession? i had no intent of driving after i had been drinking so how can this affect my insurance and my license being revoked? also i appreciated the constuctive feedback.... please more info if possible

So you think its' only fun to be a teenager if you drink and have sex. Hmm. Little advice, it's not always fun. I've heard of tons stories with teenager who have drunk and gotten into acidents, that have died or killed other people, or some where they just drink too much until it kills them. And believe me its no fun to them, or to their families.

I know plenty of kids that have gotten pregnant from having sex too young. And most of those don't have a happy ending. I'm willing to bet those teenage parents, aren't having too much fun, becasue they can no longer be a kid.

All Slealth was pointing out is that you don't always to have to do those things in order to have fun. Becasue I'm willing to bet your not having much fun having to take care of this problem, based on your mistake.

And the only thing negative here is the fact that you feel, you have to do drink in order to have fun. But the fact is you don't, drinking is a privilege which you get when you come of age.

 

[InaBitOfTrouble]

well by assuming i must drink to have fun is an assumption and a wrong one.... in my hometown i rarely if ever drink.... im not having sex ect ect.... i went to panama city and thought i was immune so i messed up? i dont really want ur guilt trip about how people drink drive crash and die or how people die from alchy poisoning becuase all this is irrelevant to my problem? and when ur 18 doesnt ur juvy record get sealed not erased?

 

[Wolflmg]

well by assuming i must drink to have fun is an assumption and a wrong one.... in my hometown i rarely if ever drink.... im not having sex ect ect.... i went to panama city and thought i was immune so i messed up? i dont really want ur guilt trip about how people drink drive crash and die or how people die from alchy poisoning becuase all this is irrelevant to my problem? and when ur 18 doesnt ur juvy record get sealed not erased?

That really depends upon the case whether it get's sealed, erased or could be on their for all time. But that doesn't mean, anyone (kids and teens) should go around doing what they please, just becasue when they turn 18, it will be like it never happened. Sometimes that's not always the case.

And it wasn't a guilt trip, it was more of pointing out what happens to teenagers, that do things that their truely not ready for.

 

[stealth2]

well by assuming i must drink to have fun is an assumption and a wrong one....

Well, you made an assumption - and a wrong one at that. So pot, meet kettle.

 

[Happy Trails]

Why would you think you were immune?

The purchase and public possession of alcohol by minors under the age of 21 is illegal in all 50 states - so even if a teen is not driving, he/she can still be arrested for drinking or having possession of alcohol.

Minor in possession in Alabama:

Misdemeanor – fine of not less than $50.00 but no more than $500.00; possible imprisonment up to 3 months; driver’s license suspension of not less than 3 months but no more than 6 months.
Ala. Code § 28-3A-25

I know this happened in Florida, however, it will still be on your record.

Florida statutes state:
1562.111 (1) It is unlawful for any person under the age of 21 years,......to have in her or his possession alcoholic beverages,.........any person under the age of 21 who is convicted of a violation of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in 775.082 (4b) For a misdemeanor of the second degree, by a definite term of imprisonment not exceeding 60 days or 775.083 fines.--

(1) A person who has been convicted of an offense other than a capital felony may be sentenced to pay a fine in addition to any punishment described in s. 775.082; when specifically authorized by statute, he or she may be sentenced to pay a fine in lieu of any punishment described in s. 775.082. A person who has been convicted of a noncriminal violation may be sentenced to pay a fine. Fines for designated crimes and for noncriminal violations shall not exceed:
............
(e) $500, when the conviction is of a misdemeanor of the second degree or a noncriminal violation.

Fines imposed in this subsection shall be deposited by the clerk of the court in the fine and forfeiture fund established pursuant to s. 142.01. If a defendant is unable to pay a fine, the court may defer payment of the fine to a date certain.

(2) In addition to the fines set forth in subsection (1), court costs shall be assessed and collected in each instance a defendant pleads nolo contendere to, or is convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for, a felony, a misdemeanor, or a criminal traffic offense under state law, or a violation of any municipal or county ordinance if the violation constitutes a misdemeanor under state law. The court costs imposed by this section shall be $50 for a felony and $20 for any other offense and shall be deposited by the clerk of the court into an appropriate county account for disbursement for the purposes provided in this subsection. A county shall account for the funds separately from other county funds as crime prevention funds. The county, in consultation with the sheriff, must expend such funds for crime prevention programs in the county, including safe neighborhood programs under ss. 163.501-163.523.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0562/SEC111.HTM&Title=->2004->Ch0562->Section%20111#0562.111

Sounds like fun to me......

 

[InaBitOfTrouble]

i appreciate the official help very much you all have been very helpful