Minor in Consumption of Alcohol
Are You Under the Age of 21 and Accused of Consuming Alcohol?
In order to legally consume alcohol, you must be at least 21 years of age. Anyone under that age is considered a "minor" by Kansas law (particularly in these types of situations) and therefore becomes vulnerable to adjudication or conviction. Just because a young person is accused of underage alcohol consumption doesn't make that individual is a bad person—he or she might have simply made a mistake due to peer pressure, or the situation might have simply arisen out of a misunderstanding or out of false allegations. Whatever your circumstances are, it is in your best interests to work with a capable criminal defense attorney after receiving such allegations. At Gigstad Law Office, LLC, we have a competent Overland Park criminal defense lawyer who can help you challenge your accusers in court. With our law firm's help, you might be able to avoid being adjudicated or convicted, which means you could avoid having this criminal offense on your record.
Kansas Law on Underage Drinking
Under Kansas law (K.S.A. §41-727), individuals under the age of 21 are prohibited from consuming alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverages, unless it is authorized due to certain legal exceptions. Individuals who are found guilty of this offense can be subject to expensive fines and other penalties. Underage drinking is considered a juvenile crime for individuals who are under the age of 18. Upon adjudication, these individuals can receive a fine valuing between $200 and $500. If the offender is at least 18 years old but younger than 21 years old, he or she can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and sentenced to a fine of $200, upon conviction.
Other possible penalties include 40 hours of public service, the order to complete program that teaches about the effects of alcohol and other substances and a driver's license suspension. The offender can receive a 30-day suspension for a first-time offense, a 90-day suspension for a second-time offense and a one-year suspension for a third-time or subsequent offense.
It is important for individuals under the age of 21 to know that they can actually be at risk of facing a more serious offense if they are shown to have operated a vehicle after consuming alcohol. This could result in the individual being charged with an underage DUI charge rather than a charge for minor in consumption of alcohol. According to Kansas' statutes, a law enforcement officer can request a person who is under age 21 to take a preliminary breath test if that officer suspects the individual to have been driving and driving. DUI penalties are more severe than the penalties given for underage drinking.
Defense Strategies
When you turn to our law firm, we look closely at all the details of your case, including any evidence that prosecution is likely to use against you. We look at whether law enforcement officers carried out the correct procedures in searching you and your property and in making an arrest. If they did not, this can potentially help you get your case dismissed. We also help you explore your various defense options and use the ones that provide you with the greatest benefit.
Here are a few defenses that we might be able to use to get you acquitted of your charges, or to get them dismissed or reduced:
- You possessed the alcohol but never actually consumed it.
- You were near the alcohol, but you neither possessed it nor consumed it.
- The beverage you consumed did not contain alcohol.
- You consumed the beverage but had no way of knowing that is was alcoholic.
- You were mistaken for someone else who was drinking the alcohol.
- You had parental permission and supervision.
Contact Our Overland Park Criminal Defense Attorney
While this might be a very stressful time for you, it is important to remember that there is help available. We can provide you with a free consultation so that you can receive initial legal advice free of charge. After learning more about your case, you can decide what your best options are for moving forward.
We work hard to aggressively protect our clients' rights. Contact our firm today!
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Testimonials
Client-Centered Legal Represntation
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Everything with my experience has been far and above. But the kindness and being treated with such respect has meant so much to me.Former Client
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Robert hung in on my case and we prevailed in a bogus battery case. It was a bit of a Mexican standoff with the prosecutor, but he got my case dismissed when it came down to crunch time. I would recommend his services to anyone!Josh T.
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Took care of everything for me... I just gave him the paperwork. Pretty legitAaron
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Chris was great! I was involved in a car accident at a stop light and was given a ticket for following too close. The girl I hit even said it wasn't my fault, however I was still given a citation. I contacted Chris to help me get my ticket reduced to a non-moving violation after several people told me it couldn't be done since I was involved in an accident. I provided Chris with all the details of the accident and he said he would take care of it. After a few exchanged emails, Chris attended my court date and got the job done! For a small fee, my ticket was reduced to a non-moving violation. I would encourage anyone to use Chris' services because he was friendly, reliable, and professional.Happy Client
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Robert was very helpful on my (2) Moving violations. He skilly negotiated both to parking tickets - neither are reportable to my insurance. He kept me informed during the important milestones of the process. I have no reservation whatsoever in recommending his legal services. Steve RichardsonSteve R.
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Robert attended all of my court dates and got everything in order for me to do a diversion. In addition, he was able to get my drivers license case dropped (the part I was really dreading). He provided me with good advice on what to do and all the steps needed to move forward. He was easy to get a hold of through the entire process and great to work with. I would recommend him to anyone!Happy Client
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I got an MIP and Fake ID charge in Lawrence and Robert Gigstad was extremely helpful and thorough in handling my case. He always got back to me in a timely manner and kept me informed throughout the whole process, I got diversion for both charges so they will not be on my permanent record.Kelly
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Chris was great from the start! I made a bad judgement call to get myself into the position I was in, and I needed help to rectify the situation & move forward. I am completely inexperienced when it comes to the law & proceedings. Chris was professional, supportive, and just - HANDLED everything. I appreciate all of his expert help making the most out of a bad choice & bad situation. There is so much additional sleep I could have lost at night if I didn’t trust Chris to guide me in the decision making and achieve the best possible outcome. I highly recommend Chris!Happy Client
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LICENCE NOT SUSPENDED A.H. V. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
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LICENSE NOT SUSPENDED. A.M. V. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
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DRIVER'S LICENSE NOT SUSPENDED. A.M. V. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
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LICENSE SAVED B.B. V. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
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NOT GUILITY C.C. V. M.B.