My law firm has handled hundreds of underage drinking cases involving ASU students. Aside from drinking at the Salt River, having clients caught drinking at ASU dorms is the most common scenario. The general charges for underage drinking are Minor in Consumption of Alcohol (MIC) and Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP). The difference is, one charge relates to having consumed alcohol and the other to being in possession of alcohol.
After being caught by the police, students typically receive what looks like a citation. Because of the in formalities associated with the document and the scenario, my clients and potential clients really do not give the citation any more deference than a traffic ticket. If this is your assumption, you are making a very big mistake! The truth is, this is a formal charging document – you are being charged with a class 2 misdemeanor! This means, if you are convicted, the conviction will forever appear on your criminal history. You may also experience significant consequences with ASU, including being removed from the dorms.
You have worked too hard to get into college – don’t throw it all away by being convicted of a crime. If you haven’t told your parents, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. You will find that although your parents may initially be disappointed, they will help you get through this tough situation.
I provide students with a discount for my representation. Because my firm handles very serious felonies, we look at underage drinking representation as our way of giving back to the community. I highly doubt there is another lawyer in Tempe who handles more Minor in Consumption of Alcohol or Minor in Possession of Alcohol cases than me. I am an experienced Tempe criminal defense attorney who fights hard to ensure my clients’ rights are protected and they receive the best possible outcome for their case
Call a lawyer at my office 24/7 for free advice concerning your MIC or MIP charge.
Author Bio
Matthew L. Lopez
Matthew L. Lopez is the Managing Attorney and founder of Matthew Lopez Law, a criminal defense and DUI firm serving clients throughout Arizona. His track record of case dismissals and charge reductions has earned him honors, including a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 nomination, a “Superb” 10/10 Avvo rating, and a Rising Star designation by Super Lawyers.
Matthew is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and holds active memberships with the Arizona Association for Criminal Justice and the Arizona Association for Justice. His firm handles criminal defense, DUI, drug charges, and traffic offenses, offering free consultations and affordable payment plans to make quality defense accessible to all Arizonans.
