Bloomfield Township
Minor in Possession Attorneys Effectively Fighting Minor in Possession Charges from Offices in Birmingham & Oak Park
If any person under the age of 21 is found with any type of alcoholic beverage, they may be charged with minor in possession. This misdemeanor offense can be charged whether or not the person is drinking at the time of the arrest. While it may not seem very serious to drink or possess alcohol underage, the law views it differently. A conviction of a minor in possession can lead to severe criminal penalties and the revocation of driving privileges. If you or your child were arrested for this crime, Fraiberg & Pernie can help.
To make an appointment, reach out to our Oakland County juvenile defense lawyers at 248-986-2682.
Understanding Minor in Possession Laws
The law clearly states that if you are under the age of 21, you cannot possess any type of alcoholic beverage in a public place. However, there are certain situations that could be misconstrued by law enforcement or a bystander. For example, your friend who is 25 could have purchased a beer and asked you to hold it right at the moment that a police officer walked by. In order to reach a conviction, the prosecution must be able to prove that the alleged offense occurred in public and that you actually did knowingly possess or consume the alcohol.
You could be charged with minor in possession if you:
- Obtained alcohol as an underage person
- Attempted to purchase alcohol as an underage person
- Possessed alcohol as an underage person
- Misrepresented your identity to obtain alcohol as an underage person
- Used false identification to obtain alcohol as an underage person
Our defense lawyers can help you navigate your legal process, schedule your free case review now to get started!
Call Fraiberg & Pernie today at 248-986-2682 to make an appointment with our Oakland County juvenile defense attorneys.
The state of Michigan prides itself on having some of the strongest minor in possession (MIP) laws in the country. In fact, in 2004 Michigan’s minor in possession (MIP) law went through several changes designed to enhance its effectiveness, including altering the definition of being “in possession of alcohol” to include blood alcohol content, giving judges the right to sentence minors who fail to properly respond to charges with jail time, and setting up a system with the Secretary of State to track first time offenders. Now, while this may all seem a little over the top to some, minor in possession (MIP) laws in Michigan are no joke. If you or your child has been charged with minor in possession (MIP), you need to retain competent minor in possession (MIP) attorneys, like ours at Fraiberg & Pernie, as soon as possible to effectively avoid a conviction or harsh sentencing.
At Fraiberg & Pernie, we understand that things aren’t always what they seem. Perhaps you were merely holding someone else’s drink when law enforcement rolled up on you unexpectedly, leaving you looking guilty, or perhaps there is some other completely reasonable explanation as to why you were in such a unique situation? Whatever the circumstance, our job at Fraiberg & Pernie, isn’t to judge – it’s to help make sure you are given the benefit of the doubt. Luckily, our minor in possession (MIP) attorneys at Fraiberg & Pernie are quite good at this. From Matthew Fraiberg’s background as a city prosecutor and judicial clerk, affording us ideal understanding of the way each and every judge handles their cases as well as an edge during litigation, to Eric Pernie’s past as a renowned police officer, allowing us to know first hand what you’re going through, we’re certain we have more than enough skill and expertise to come up with a viable solution to combat all your legal challenges.
Whether this is you or your child’s first offense, or you/they are facing repeat charges, our minor in possession (MIP) attorneys have what it takes to help you put these juvenile mistakes behind you. Our attorneys have successfully resolved thousands of cases throughout the last several years, going so far as to provide one-of-a-kind payment plans for our clients suffering serious financial obstacles, and we do it all because we truly care about our clients. See for yourself how our minor in possession (MIP) attorneys can help you by getting in touch with us at Fraiberg & Pernie today! Call 248-986-2682 or fill in the form in the sidebar for your free consultation.