Underage Drinking Charges

[Ihavetwo]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Pennsylvania

My 18 year old son was with some friends about 8 weeks ago. He and others apparently had a little alcohol to drink, but the driver did not. All were underage. They were pulled over and the policeman supposedly gave him a breathalyzer, but we don't know what the reading was, then called us to ask if he could send my son home with his friend who wasn't drinkng.

The boys were told that if they are charged with anything, it will be disorderly conduct. One mother called the police to ask and was told at the time that the police have 70 some odd days to charge them and if their names weren't in the paper at the time she called, they probably wouldn't be. We haven't heard anything since that night until today, their names all appear in the police log in the local paper that they were charged with Underage Drinking.

Is this the normal procedure? Will we now receive a fine in the mail or what happens? Will his license be suspended? Would it be out of line for me to call and ask the breathalizer reading and the circumstances surrounding that night?

This is all new to us. Thanks for any help in letting us know what to expect.

[seniorjudge]

Q: Is this the normal procedure?

A: I've never noticed anything normal in the court system, but, generally, what you describe sounds about right.


Q: Will we now receive a fine in the mail or what happens?

A: You don't receive a fine in the mail. Your son may receive a summons requesting him to send a fine.


Q: Will his license be suspended?

A: Most states have such provisions.


Q: Would it be out of line for me to call and ask the breathalizer reading and the circumstances surrounding that night?

A: No; but don't expect to get them. You usually get those if you plead not guilty and ask for a trial.



If this is a state charge, the government usually has a year to file charges.

[Ihavetwo]

Thanks for your reply. I would have thought he would have been given a citation or something the night they were stopped. Since my son didn't have his license with him or any other I.D., the officer had him write his name, address and phone number on a piece of paper. When the officer called us, he said he had stopped the boys and he suspected our son was drinking. He also told the boys he was only going to charge them with disorderly conduct. I guess I'm just more familiar with a traffic violation where right away you know what you're getting.