Cuse0507

Really, he shouldn't be too worried.

As someone who has been in the same boat as your son, I can tell you that at least the drinking charge isn't too big of a deal. I got one when I was in high school, went to an attorney and got the charge dismissed. The day after I was cited, the agent in charge of my case called my house and tried to convince my parents that I should do some kind of plea deal. He was nice and I believe he was well-intentioned, but it ended up working out better after I went to a lawyer.

Also, depending on which address he listed when he was cited his parents might find out anyways. Every time I got a citation at home, a steady stream of "lawyer mail" found its way to my house about a week later. Lots of times with embarassing titles, like "MR XXXX, CALL BLAH AND BLAH FOR HELP WITH YOUR DRINKING TICKET!" If I hadn't told my parents beforehand (which I was legally obligated to do as I was under 18 when I was cited), they would have found out just by getting the mail. I knew several kids in high school who thought they could get away with not telling their parents about their tickets,only to have the mail betray them a few days later.

Cuse0507

Also, next time (hopefully there isn't one for him), make sure that he keeps his mouth shut in regard to the source of his alcohol. It turned out well for him this time, but supplying alcohol to minors is fairly serious as far as drinking crimes go. The officer could have easily had someone go to the father's house and bust him for supplying to a minor, which is without a doubt what the cops I have dealt with down here would have done in a similar situation. Honesty is good, but make sure to tell him that he really doesn't have to tell the cop ANYTHING if he doesn't want to.

mapesy

Here's a very good article that explains how an underage drinking citation will affect him in the state of PA:

Alcohol citations up due to new initiative

IMHO, your godchild should tell his parents. In PA, his license would be suspended for three months, but the suspension is often delayed and may not take effect until summer. In that case, what would he tell his parents? Also, the possibility exists that his family's automobile insurance company will find out and send a notice home to his parents. That's how I found out about my own son's underage drinking citation.

If a kid in PA elects to take the 15 hours of classroom instruction, as my son did, he will have to attend classes in the town where the citation was issued. Again, his class may not be held until summer. What will he tell his parents if that's the case?

Of course, this is PA state law. Laws are different in every state.

mapesy

One more thing....

Like your godchild, my son's citation was issued in a town other than the city where he was attending college. My son had to skip classes on the day of his hearing and travel three hours to appear before a district justice in the town that issued the citation.

Again, this is PA.

Novelisto

Let me get this straight:

His dad supplied alcohol to his minor son and then let him roam around with 'friends', who also drink. But Dad is the one who is going to get all threatening and noisy when the consequences of *his* actions contribute to minor son's troubles. Yeah, great parenting skills there. Is alchohol a problem with this family?

Is there anyway you can be with your god-son when he breaks the news to dear ol' dad and mum? Maybe the presence of a more-or-less neutral third party pointing out that Dad made a whopper of a boo-boo here and is darn lucky he isn't seeing the police at *his* door to make the folks take a less confrontational position. In VA, they'd be arresting Dad.

Hopefully this will show your god-son to be a little more careful with both friends and family, none of whom seem to have his best interests at heart. I'm glad he has you.

chocoholic

Really? In many states parents are allowed to serve alcohol to their kids inside their home.
No, alcohol is NOT a problem with this family, now with the kid. just a string of silly mistakes imho. The boy was not driving, thank goodness, he got a ride there from friends.

cmbmom

His parents probably will find out. I got a speeding ticket in NC last year and within a week I had 6 letters to my home address from attorneys in that county willing to represent me in court.

If it were my child or godchild I would want him or her to at least talk to a local attorney. Then a decision can be made on whether an attorney is needed.

snowball

Those attorneys letters will also show up for the alcohol. Every DUI attorney in the metro area will have his name; you will not believe the amount of mail this can produce!

Tell the parents or at the very least find out from the campus where these citations go from here. The boy needs an attorney even if he plans to plead guilty so that all his questions can be answered.

chocoholic

He has decided to plead not guilty but will consult with a local attorney first (local to where the citation was written).

Unfortunately he now has a letter from his own school, as the information was sent to them, (in a 3rd state, from where he lives, and where the violation occured), saying that there will be a "pre-hearing" on his campus.

I feel really sorry, as this kid is so clean, and his parents are so non-supportive. he just wants to do this the best way, and tell his parents after its over.

fordiscussion

I don't think you should tell his parents. He trusted you enough to tell you and if you tell his parents next time he'll find someone else. However, I think you should explain the facts that others have shared about how his parents are going to find out anyway and let him tell them. And if he doesn't, let him suffer the consequences.

I too think that his father is at fault. Whether PA allows a parent to serve a minor child or not, the father let him drink and them leave. He needs to realize and could happen when he allows that. Maybe if presented properly, the parents will see the need to supply the attorney.

cmbmom

The college safety department that issued the citation notified his school for this???

chocoholic

Yup, this college campus police notified his own university. This is even before the kid has entered his plea. It kind of makes me sick.

Now he is facing proceedings at his own school before he goes before the court/magistrate at the school he was visiting.

From what he says, the cops wrote whatever they wanted on the citations, even though he told them most of it was not true. They ignored him. He had already been handcuffed and whisked off to the station, so he was terrified at that point. He did not sign, as he did not agree to the written citation.

MomofWildChild

Here I am. Find a lawyer who knows his way around the local system. This will require some asking around. You don't want to mess with this because things can go south in a hurry when you are talking about alcohol combined with tampering with public equipment. The desired result is a fine with probation and the record wiped clean after the probationary period. It may cost some bucks for the lawyer, but it's worth it. (trust me on this one) A lot DOES depend on the jurisdiction. This might be a non-event, or it might be very serious like Wildchild's fake ID bust in NJ. (I am a lawyer, by the way)

jrpar

He definitely should consult a local lawyer. As posters above noted, there will be mail communication re: the citations sent to his home, so his parents are going to find out about this. If it is Pennsylvania (I seem to have started this rumor), a letter will be sent to his parents informing them of the arrest (this is required by Pa law).

It is sometimes possible to do the hearing over the phone - a call to the court will verify this (another reason to get a local lawyer's advice). It is also sometimes possible to do the alcohol education classes long-distance. You need local guidance on this.

1of42

I find the double jeopardy of a student's own college making them attend a disciplinary hearing for an alleged infraction that happened in a place entirely unrelated to that college completely sickening. Especially given the specious nature of the charges.

I suspect with a half-decent lawyer all these charges can be dismissed, though. Especially if this was in a state in which consumption of alcohol under the supervision of a parent is allowed. Because then, no legal infraction was committed in drinking the alcohol, and unless the police can prove public inebriation, nothing's going in that front. Is the state in which this problem occurred one of those states, chocoholic?

As for the fire extinguisher thing, I suspect that too will be easy to get out of.

But I do not think it is at all tenable not to tell his parents. He needs to do that. And sooner, not later.