Throughout 2011 and 2012, local police departments, including the Narragansett Police, South Kingstown Police, North Kingstown Police and Bristol Police, are dedicating vast amounts of resources to arrest college students for alcohol related offenses. The college students involved include URI students, Bryant University students, Salve Regina University students, and Roger Williams University students. In most case, the college students are involved in a traffic stop wherein the police officers involved believe that an occupant of the vehicle, which has recently been observed at a liquor store, may be under twenty-one (21) years of age. Thereafter, the occupants are questioned, the vehicle, including the trunk and any book bags, are searched for alcohol. Charges include the furnishing or procuring of alcohol for minors, in violation of R.I.G.L. 3-8-11.1, transportation of alcohol by a minor, in violation of R.I.G.L. 3-8-9, misrepresentation of age to obtain alcohol (using a fake ID) in violation of R.I.G.L. 3-8-6, and possession of alcohol by a minor in violation of R.I.G.L. 3-8-10.
The creation of the Rhode Island Social Host Laws by the Rhode Island General Assembly was to prevent the furnishing or procurement of alcohol for high school students or college students by adults. The social host laws were created to punish the adults for providing either the alcohol or a safe haven for the consumption of alcohol by underage persons. However, as a result of tremendous pressure by special interest groups the social host laws have been perverted to become a tool to be used against college students.
Fortunately, for the clients of the Law Offices of Robert H. Humphrey, 2011 was an extremely successful year in combating social host law violations including the transportation of alcohol by a minor, misrepresentation of age, furnishing or procuring of alcohol by a minor and possession of alcohol by a minor. A sample of some of the significant victories our Clients achieved in connection with alcohol violations in 2011 are outlined below:
In November of 2010, our Client was charged by the South Kingstown Police Department with transportation of alcohol by a minor, which for a first offense includes a fine of not more than $250.00 and a license suspension of not more than thirty (30) days. In February of 2011, the offense of transportation of alcohol by a minor pending against our Client was dismissed based on our negotiations and our experience in underage alcohol offense matters. Also, the offense was expunged from our Client's record so he could maintain his clean criminal record, avoid disciplinary proceedings at his college and avoid any license suspension.
In February of 2011, our Client was charged by the Bristol Police Department with furnishing or procurement of alcohol for a minor. For a first offense, our Client could have been punished by a fine of not less than $350.00 nor more than $1,000.00 and/or imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months or both. Fortunately for our Client, in April of 2011, the furnishing or procuring alcohol for a minor was dismissed based on our negotiations and experience with underage alcohol offenses. This successful disposition allowed our Client to maintain his clean criminal record, avoid disciplinary proceedings at his college and avoid any imprisonment.
In February of 2011, our Client was charged by the Narragansett Police Department with misrepresentation of age to obtain alcoholic beverages (using a fake ID). The penalties for having a fake ID and then using it to try to purchase alcohol are severe and include for a first offense a mandatory fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, thirty (30) hours of community service and a thirty (30) day license suspension. Fortunately for our Client, in April of 2011, the misrepresentation of age charge was dismissed based on our negotiations and experience with underage alcohol offenses. This successful disposition allowed our Client to maintain his clean criminal record, to avoid disciplinary proceedings at his college and to avoid any license suspension.
In April of 2011, our Client was charged by the South Kingstown Police Department with transportation of alcohol by a minor. If our Client had been convicted of the transportation of alcohol by a minor offense, he could have suffered a fine of not more than $250.00 and have his license suspended for thirty (30) days. Fortunately for our Client, in May of 2011, the transportation of alcohol charge was dismissed based on our negotiations and experience with underage alcohol offenses. This successful disposition allowed our Client to maintain his clean criminal record, to avoid disciplinary proceedings at his college and to avoid any license suspension.
In August of 2011, our Client was charged by the Bristol Police Department with the alcohol offense of misrepresentation of age. If convicted, our Client would have received a punishment including a mandatory fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, thirty (30) hours of community service and a thirty (30) day license suspension. Fortunately for our Client, the misrepresentation of age charge was dismissed at arraignment due to evidentiary issues that Attorney Humphrey raised. The charge was then expunged from our Client's record which was extremely beneficial to our Client who was active military because it allowed him to avoid disciplinary actions with the military and maintain a clean criminal record.
When you or a family member has been charged with an alcohol offense, your future, your license and your liberty are in jeopardy. For over twenty (20) years, Attorney Robert H. Humphrey has successfully handled alcohol offenses. For over fourteen (14) years, Attorney Humphrey has been a frequent lecturer for the Rhode Island Bar Association on the subject of alcohol offenses and he has authored/co-authored fifteen (15) articles, which have been published in the Rhode Island Bar Journal regarding the topic of alcohol offenses. Please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.