The legal drinking age, as we all know, is 21 but unfortunately even with that knowledge some underage drinking still goes on. In Wisconsin, if someone if drinking underage and is caught and ticketed it is called a forfeiture, a forfeiture is a non-criminal offense that will result in a fine – jail/prison are not one of the consequences of a forfeiture. Here is a breakdown of all fines that can accumulate, if an individual is accused of underage drinking in Wisconsin.
Drinking/Possessing Alcohol – When an individual is between the ages of 17 and 20 the possession and consumption of alcohol can have serious consequences. For a first offense the individual is looking at a fine of $100-$200 and the individuals license can be suspended for between 30 to 90 days.
A second offense will run between $200-$300 and the license of the individual will be suspended for up to a whole year.
A third offense will yield a $300-$500 fines and again, an individual can potentially lose their license for up to a year.
A fourth offense, lets hope no one gets this far, will carry a $500-$1000 fine with an individual losing their license for up to 2 years.
We should also note that using of possessing a fake ID is also a forfeiture, and is punishable by a $300-$1250 fine and the license of the individual can also be suspended for 30-90 days.
If you have been cited with a ticket for consuming or possessing alcohol while underage it is probably a good idea to hire an experienced attorney to review your case. Many times these matters can be resolved without getting a license suspension or having the ticket on your personal record forever. At our law firm in Wauwatosa, WI we have a dedicated staff that can defend your underage alcohol charges. You might be thinking to yourself, “I’ll just pay the fine and be done with it” but please remember these charges can come back to haunt you down the road if not taken care of properly.
Contact our Wauwatosa, WI law firm at 414-259-9300 and one of our experienced attorneys can sit down and talk about your legal case. We would be more than happy to represent you and hope that you’ll consider our law firm.