Counties in New Jersey Tighten Restrictions on Underage Drinking
Currently two of the 26 municipalities in Hunterdon County have ordinances forbidding underage drinking on private property. According to a news report in The Hunterdon County Democrat, the county prosecutor is pushing for all townships to adopt new underage drinking restrictions, similar to those in Clinton and West Amwell. As the law currently stands, police officers do not have the power to arrest juveniles who are drinking at private parties. The goal of the new law is to drastically reduce underage drinking and to target youth obtaining liquor without a parental permission. New fines for juveniles consuming alcohol could include $250 to $350 fines and driver's license suspensions.
New Jersey state law 2C:33-15 makes it illegal for juveniles to possess or consume alcohol on public property. “Any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who knowingly possesses without legal authority or who knowingly consumes any alcoholic beverage in any school, public conveyance, public place, or place of public assembly, or motor vehicle, is guilty of a disorderly persons offense, and shall be fined not less than $500.” Under the proposed law, juveniles can be charged with drinking alcohol in their own home as well.
The juvenile crime defense attorneys in Princeton at Lependorf & Silverstein help protect the legal rights and the future of New Jersey’s youth. We understand that mistakes can happen and we fight to ensure that a relatively minor youthful indiscretion does not have a negative impact on the future of a young person. If your child has been charged with a crime in New Jersey, please contact us at 609-240-0040 for a no-cost consultation.
