Kathleen Gray , Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau 1:46 p.m. EST December 6, 2016
A bill intended to give underage drinkers a second chance passed overwhelmingly in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Under the legislation that passed on a 105-1 vote, a first minor in possession of alcohol offense would become a civil infraction, punishable by a $100 fine, instead of the current misdemeanor charge that carries a $100 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
More than 6,000 minors -- many of them in college towns -- got popped for trying to buy or consume alcohol in 2013 and were charged with misdemeanors for their youthful indiscretions, according to the most recent statistics available from the Michigan State Police.
The second offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine. A third offense would carry a sentence of up to 60 days and a $500 fine and possible revocation of the offender’s driver’s license.
Click on this link for rest of story:
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/06/minor-possession-charge-goes-misdemeanor-civil-infraction/95044128/
A bill intended to give underage drinkers a second chance passed overwhelmingly in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Under the legislation that passed on a 105-1 vote, a first minor in possession of alcohol offense would become a civil infraction, punishable by a $100 fine, instead of the current misdemeanor charge that carries a $100 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
More than 6,000 minors -- many of them in college towns -- got popped for trying to buy or consume alcohol in 2013 and were charged with misdemeanors for their youthful indiscretions, according to the most recent statistics available from the Michigan State Police.
The second offense would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine. A third offense would carry a sentence of up to 60 days and a $500 fine and possible revocation of the offender’s driver’s license.
Click on this link for rest of story:
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/06/minor-possession-charge-goes-misdemeanor-civil-infraction/95044128/
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