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Monday, February 16, 2009

Ind. Law - "It's the Law: Be wary of tinted windows, extra lighting"

Ind. Law - "It's the Law: Underage drinking"

Ken Kosky's NWI Times' "It's the Law" column for today, looks at underage drinking and furnishing alcohol to minors. Some quotes:

Prom and graduation season are just around the corner, and that's when police generally see a big rise in underage drinking parties.

But minors -- those between 18 and 20 years of age -- should know that if they're caught drinking or possessing alcohol, they will most likely be taken to jail, local police say. Violators can face jail sentences if convicted, but most likely will face sentences like probation or community service. In addition, violators can also have their driver's licenses suspended.

Those who are 17 or younger are generally charged, but released to their parents, police said.

Other alcohol offenses for which minors can be jailed are drunken driving and minor in a tavern.

Police also can arrest parents or other adults who furnish alcohol to those who are younger than 21 years old. The adults can be arrested on misdemeanor charges of furnishing alcohol to a minor or contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The offense of furnishing alcohol becomes a felony if a death or serious injury results, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor becomes a felony if a death results from the providing of alcohol or drugs, or if it causes the minor to commit certain drug dealing offenses.

Valparaiso police Sgt. Michael Grennes said he's seen instances where parents decide to host a party and let their children and their children's friends drink alcohol -- but believe it's fine because they will be monitoring and keeping them from driving.

"That's not OK. They can still be charged with contributing or furnishing," Grennes said.

In addition, parents are opening themselves up to civil lawsuits if they provide alcohol and a young person overdoses or leaves the party and dies, becomes injured or harms someone else in a crash, Grennes said.

For more, see this ILB entry from Dec. 15, 2007 headed "Ex-Colts QB Trudeau, wife to pay $5,000 fine in teen party case", and related ILB entries under the heading "Justice Is Unequal for Parents Who Host Teen Drinking Parties" from July 4, 2007 and Dec. 7, 2007.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 16, 2009 09:51 AM
Posted to Indiana Law