<p>My 18 year old godchild called me last night, for help and advice, as he does not want to tell his parents. </p>
<p>He was visiting friends on another campus (during his own Spring Break), and a bunch of them decided to go to a campus food court at 2 a.m. While they were leaving, one kid grabbed the fire extinguisher on the way out. So, now they are walking down the street with it. this kid starts spraying, then passes it to kid 2, who sprays, and passes it to godchild. OFCOURSE, a cruiser shows up, everyone flees, but gc decides that running is bad, and unnecessary, since he was innocent.</p>
<p>Long story short, he has 2 citations now. One for tampering with fire equipment, and one for alcohol on breath. He told the police that he had not sprayed, others had run, he had had beer at his Dad’s before coming, he was not driving, etc. etc. To no avail. They did not bother to chase the other kids.</p>
<p>Now, I want him to tell his parents, but he refuses. He wants ME to tell him whether to plead innocent, and go to court, plead guilty and pay hundreds of $$ in fines, or get a lawyer, or do an Alcohol Awareness course through court which leads to dismissal of the alcohol charge, but also gets the license suspended.</p>
<p>I am quite clueless, but feel some obligation to stay connected as he is opening up to me and seems terrified.</p>
<p>Hmmm…I think he needs a lawyer right away, and, obviously, he needs to tell his parents, so that they can help him. Perhaps when he has a few hours to get over the shock, and is able to think clearly, he will be more open to talking to his parents?</p>
<p>They are neither misdemeanors nor felonies. Citations would be similar to a speeding ticket.
Yes, they have cited him for underage drinking, even though he said he had 2 beers with his dad. There was no breathalayzer test.</p>
<p>He is not asking for $$, only advice. He will pay everything out of summer earnings. This is really a good kid.</p>
<p>It happened a few days ao, but he told me yesterday, and he says no way will his parents be rational about it. But that is irrelevant.</p>
<p>I believe it is a campus police involved, but the “victim” is the town. he typed up every detail that he could remember, and sent me this huge Word document.</p>
<p>He is just really upset because the cops would not let him speak. And they wrote up the citation as they pleased, saying his eyes were bloodshot, and they SAW him spraying etc.</p>
<p>Do citations stay on your record if you plead guilty and pay? He has to go back to his own school, and may not be able to handle court appearances.</p>
**
As in chooses not to miss class? Too stressful? IF that is his feeling he must pay the fines and move on. He can ask for enlargement of time or have an attorney do that for him. Not quite sure I understand your comment.</p>
<p>Well, the cops told him that the underage alcohol citation could be up to $300 since he is not from that campus, but it could be erased by doing the alcohol program, and that means $100 for the program and $100 court costs!!!</p>
<p>The fire extinguisher citation carries a $200 fine.</p>
<p>I think the kid is more worried about his record than the monetary cost.</p>
<p>Plus, it will probably be sent by this campus to his own school , which will then turn into a hearing at his school!!!</p>
<p>I guess since he does not have a car, travel between states will be difficult for a hearing?</p>
<p>All of the anxiety I hear in his voice is from how this will affect his school record, his future job prospects etc. And dummy that I am, I have no clue.</p>
<p>There are many posters who have had legal issues with their children, Mom of Wild Child comes to mind first. See if you can find some of her posts. you might get more specific responses if you post the jurisdictions.</p>
<p>He needs a local lawyer. I don’t think the alcohol charges will stick without breathalyzer results. Is this Pennsylvania? The range of possible consequences sounds like the Pennsylvania system. </p>
<p>I just spoke with him and he is quite adamant about not telling his parents. My kids tell me everything (I think?) but his parents tend to become very hysterical, threatening etc. and I can see their kids not wanting advice from them. </p>
<p>Does anyone know how a citation (that sticks) would affect his record?</p>
<p>It would depend what he is charged with. Years ago when S1 was a freshman he was visiting another campus and didnt feel well…he went to the campus infirmary where of course they smelled alcohol on his breath. They called an ambulance to take him to the hospital since he wasnt a student of that school. The officer called our house and explained the situation and that he would be charged with underage drinking, etc…but they never did a breathalyzer test or a BAC…eventually when it went in front of a judge, my husband spoke to him about S1 making a mistake, he’s an Education major and how it would affect his future. The judge changed the charge to disorderly contact and was let go with the stern warning (and $175 fine) that if he ever saw my son in front of him - he would throw the book at him. This was in PA.</p>
<p>Bottom line - he should tell his parents. While they may get upset initially, it will be much worse if they find out later…and it also may jeopardize your relationship with them if they find out that YOU knew and never said anything.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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?</p>
<p>Of course, this is PA state law. Laws are different in every state.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 <em>his</em> actions contribute to minor son’s troubles. Yeah, great parenting skills there. Is alchohol a problem with this family? </p>
<p>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 <em>his</em> door to make the folks take a less confrontational position. In VA, they’d be arresting Dad. </p>
<p>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.</p>