I was given an underage possession/consumption citation in Madison, WI with ordinance number 38.04(5)(b). I'm 20 and this was my first violation, so I looked up the exact wording which says:
Any underage person not accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or spouse who has attained the legal drinking age who knowingly possesses or consumes alcohol beverages is guilty of a violation.
1. Any person violating Subdivision (b) is subject to the following penalties:
a. For a first violation, a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $200, suspension of the person’s operating privilege as provided under Sec. 343.30(6)(b)1., Wis. Stats., participation in a supervised work program under Sec. 125.07(4)(cg), Wis. Stats., or any combination of these penalties. (Am. by Ord. 11,330, 8-11-95)
I just had a few questions I couldn't seem to find definitive answers to. First off, is this citation a misdemeanor or a violation since it says "is guilty of a violation."? And if it is just a violation, does that mean it isn't considered a "criminal" charge, with regards to applying for jobs and such?
Also, I've been considering trying to plea not guilty based on the fact that I wasn't given any sort of objective test such as a breathalyzer or field sobriety test. The cop stopped me while walking down the sidewalk, said I was stumbling, and started asking for information. I was certainly visibly drunk, but I've been finding mixed answers for whether or not that constitutes sufficient proof to build a case on. I've also been told that cops regularly don't attend non-mandatory court dates, which can lead to them being routinely dismissed, and that I can increase the chances of that occurring by simply requesting a different date. Is there any truth to that too? A not guilty plea is really just a worst case scenario if there aren't any diversion or deferment programs I can use to avoid the license suspension and get a lower fine.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

