Top Myakka City, FL Minor in Possession Lawyers Near You
Experience. Tenacity. Results. Jenna is knowledgeable and Ready to fight For You. Call now for a FREE consultation!
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We FIGHT To Get Results. 45+ Years Combined Criminal Defense Experience. Ready to AGGRESSIVELY defend your rights and freedom.
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Top-Rated LOCAL Criminal Defense. 150+ Yrs Combined Experience. A+ BBB, Super Lawyers, Superb 10 AVVO, Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
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Even A Minor Criminal Charge Can Change Your Life Forever. Call As Soon as You Can to Learn About Your Options. I Will Personally Handle Your Case!
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In Trouble? Free Consult. Former Prosecutor & Team Former Federal Agents. Call/Text 24/7. Immediate Response Guaranteed!
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Facing Jail? Call Lail. Experienced Trial Attorney Dedicated to Bringing the Best Possible Results. Yo Hablo Español
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2075 Main St., Suite 22, Sarasota, FL 34237
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Musca Law has experience helping clients with their Minor in Possession needs in Myakka City, Florida.
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265 E. Marion Ave, Suite 118, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Contact Powell Law Firm, P.A. in Myakka City, Florida for experienced legal assistance in Minor in Possession.
2063 Main Street, Suite 100, Sarasota, FL 34237
6841 Energy Court, Suite 120, Sarasota, FL 34240
714 Manatee Ave E, Suite C, Bradenton, FL 34208
1800 2nd St Ste 785, Sarasota, FL 34236-5994
3841 Tamiami Trail, Suite A, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
100 Wallace Ave, Suite 360, Sarasota, FL 34237
11031 Gatewood Dr., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
5226 Appaloosa Cove, Bradenton, FL 34211
6151 Lake Osprey Drive, Sarasota, FL 34240
6230 Scott St, Unit 112, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
766 Hudson Ave, Suite B, Sarasota, FL 34236
2075 Main Street, Suite 38, Sarasota, FL 34237
677 N Washington Blvd, Ste 128, Sarasota, FL 34236
401 North Cattlemen Road, Suite 300, Sarasota, FL 34232
2620 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239
11031 Gatewood Drive, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
308 Cocoanut Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236
2075 Main Street, Suite 20, Sarasota, FL 34237
2184 MAIN ST, Sarasota, FL 34237
527 Manatee Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208
5900 Pan American Blvd, Suite 104, North Port, FL 34287
4420 5th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34207
2055 Wood St, Suite 118, Sarasota, FL 34237
Myakka City Minor in Possession Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Minor In Possession attorneys in Myakka City and checks their standing with Florida bar associations.
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How Do I Get a Minor in Possession?
Someone who is under the age of 21 can get a minor in possession (MIP) charge if they are found to be in possession of alcohol in public. In many cases, an MIP charge comes from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Examples of how someone gets a minor in possession charge include:
- Driver is pulled over with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle
- Police bust a party where underage people are drinking alcohol
- College student is caught with a flask of alcohol
- Underage person used a fake ID to buy beer from a convenience store
In general, it is against the law for someone under the age of 21 to consume or be in possession of alcohol. It is also against the law for someone to furnish alcohol to a minor or buy alcohol for someone under 21. The term “minor” generally refers to someone who is under the age of 18 and not an adult. However, minor in possession laws can still target an adult who is 18 years old but is still not of age to buy alcohol.
Some police activity involves searching for and busting minors who have an alcoholic beverage. However, most cases involving an MIP charge occur when the police are responding for some other reason and encounter a minor with alcohol in their possession, including:
- Traffic stops
- Car accidents
- Noise complaints
- Shoplifting
- Crisis response
- Assault
- Harassment
How Bad Is a Minor in Possession?
A minor in possession charge can be an infraction or a misdemeanor. In many cases, an MIP is treated as an infraction with a fine. As a misdemeanor, an MIP charge could but rarely involves jail time. The possible penalties involved with a minor in possession charge include:
- Jail time
- Fines
- Alcohol education program
- Community service
- Probation
- Driver’s license suspension
Does a Minor in Possession Affect Car Insurance?
In general, an MIP charge will not affect your car insurance. However, if you are found in possession of alcohol while driving and charged with an underage DUI, it may increase your insurance rates. A DUI can stay on your driving record for years and could impact your insurance premiums. Some car insurance companies will drop coverage and no longer insure someone after a DUI.
There is generally a zero-tolerance policy towards underage drinking and driving. An adult with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% may be considered impaired. However, drivers under the age of 21 can get an underage DUI with only a trace amount of alcohol in their system. If an MIP involves an underage drunk driving charge, it can affect the driver’s car insurance rates.
Will a Minor in Possession Show Up on a Background Check?
A background check can show the individual’s prior criminal history, including arrests, convictions, active warrants, and infractions. Someone may have to undergo a background check for employment, housing application, professional licensing, or to become a Lyft or Uber driver. In general, a prior conviction for a minor in possession will show up on a background check.
Some criminal charges can be expunged or sealed. A public background check may not show criminal charges that were expunged or where the individual’s records are sealed. However, law enforcement and government agencies have greater access to an individual’s criminal history than the public. The court or police department may still be able to see a prior minor in possession charge.
How Do I Avoid an MIP?
In some cases, a person is accused of being a minor in possession because the police officers don’t have evidence of any other crime. When someone under the age of 21 is found in the presence of alcohol, it is easy for the police to charge them with an MIP charge. The penalties may be small but it still can carry a criminal record. Before just paying the fine or pleading guilty, talk to a criminal defense attorney for legal advice.
There may not be a lot of evidence for the prosecutor, which is why prosecutors generally try and get a plea bargain. There are several possible legal defenses to an MIP charge, including:
- Someone else was in possession of the alcohol
- The alcohol was in the possession of an adult
- There was an emergency defense for calling the police
- The police conducted an unlawful search in violation of the defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Minor in Possession in Florida?
A minor in possession charge may not seem like a big deal but it can have long-term consequences. An MIP charge can show up on your criminal record. This may require you to declare the prior arrest and explain the situation. Even if it is not a major crime, it may not leave a good impression when you have to explain a prior criminal arrest. You may be able to avoid a criminal conviction with the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer.