West Chester University Students Face Mounting Alcohol Charges
admin | Monday, November 16th, 2009 | No Comments »(West Chester, PA) Alcohol use among college students is not news nor is attempts by colleges and universities and their adjacent communties to curb alcohol use. Now in West Chester Pennsylvania, West Chester University students are facing stricter penalties as police and magistrates refuse to negoitate and are determined to pursue criminal conviction records against the area college students.
In Pennsylvania, a violation for underage drinking is known as Possession, Consumption, Purchase or Transportation of Alcohol by a Minor (underage drinking). If you pay the fine or are found guilty of an underage drinking offense, there is a mandatory loss of your driving priviliges for a period of ninety (90) days even though the incident was removed from a motor vehicle. That’s right. The loss of driving priviliges is not related to an underage age drinking violation in a motor vehicle or while driving a motor vehicle. In addition, a guilty plea to an underage drinking charge results in a criminal record that remains on your record for a minimum of five years. That means that there may be an alcohol related or alcohol abuse offense on a student’s record when they apply for employment or look to further their education. Under newly enacted Pennsylvania law, there is now a right to request an expungement a minimum of five years after the event.
It is signficant of how underage drinking and the criminal offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol are treated. A first offense of DUI in West Chester and Chester County can offten result in entry to the first time offender program or ARD program with the charges ultimately being dropped after a period of probation. The ARD program also results in any suspension of driving privliges to be reduced from two months to no license suspension at all. Compare that with the mandatory penalty of Three months (90 days) suspension of driving privilges as a result of being caught holding a can or cup of beer.
Recently, some of the magistrates in West Chester have been very reluctant to allow West Chester Borough and West Chester University Police negotiate with students to amend or reduce the charges so that the West Chester University Students are not facing a mandatory license suspension and a conviction for an alcohol related offense. Now, more than ever, West Chester University students and/or their parents should consult with an attorney experienced in both fighting and winning underage drinking charges before the West Chester Borough Magistrates such as Judge Bruno, Judge Knapp and Judge Kraut, as well as avoiding the need for a hearing by negoitating a reduced or dismissed plea in exchange for community service and our classes.
Consider a team of experienced underage drinking criminal defense lawyers in West Chester, Pennsylvania such as Ciccarelli Law Offices. In many cases, underage drinking charges are improperly filed or based on insufficient evidence. Our office has been successful in fighting and winning underage drinking offenses where the police entered an apartment without just cause, was testing West Chester University students as they were trying to enter their dorm rooms, and in cases where a student is charged with possessing a cup of “beer-like” substance that the West Chester police can not proof is alcohol.
Learn more about Ciccarelli Lawyers and our ability to fight Underage Drinking Charges for West Chester University students by sending us an email inquiry or contact us at (610) 925-2500.
