1. What is the law about minors possessing alcohol in Connecticut?

The law:

Sec. 30-89. Purchasing liquor or making false statement to procure liquor by person forbidden to purchase prohibited. Possessing liquor by minor on public or private property prohibited; exceptions.

(a) Any person to whom the sale of alcoholic liquor is by law forbidden who purchases or attempts to purchase such liquor or who makes any false statement for the purpose of procuring such liquor shall be fined not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars.

(b) Any minor who possesses any alcoholic liquor on public or private property shall, for a first offense, have committed an infraction and, for any subsequent offense, be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than five hundred dollars. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to (1) a person over age eighteen who is an employee or permit holder under section 30-90a and who possesses alcoholic liquor in the course of such person's employment or business, (2) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor on the order of a practicing physician, or (3) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor while accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse of the minor, who has attained the age of twenty-one. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to burden a person's exercise of religion under section 3 of article first of the Constitution of the state in violation of subsection (a) of section 52-571b.

2. Where does it say in that law that the driver’s license will be suspended?

It doesn’t. For that you must look to Connecticut General Statutes 14-111a.

That law states:

Sec. 14-111a. Possession of alcoholic liquors in motor vehicles by underage persons.
Any person under the legal drinking age operating a motor vehicle, unless accompanied by his parent or guardian, in which a police officer finds alcoholic liquor as defined in section 30-1, may be summoned by such officer to appear at a hearing before the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, or an agent duly authorized by said commissioner, to show cause why his operator's license should not be revoked. If at such hearing the commissioner or his agent finds that such person knew or had reason to know that alcoholic liquor was in such motor vehicle, he may revoke the operator's license of such person for a period not exceeding sixty days. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person over age eighteen who is engaged in the performance of services for an employer holding a permit under chapter 545 or who holds a permit under said chapter.

3. Why did the officer tell me/my child to pay the fine and not to worry about it?

The truth is that most police officers do not know that there is a corresponding drivers license loss when they issue a ticket for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. The make the ticket out for the minimum, $200, and figure they are giving you a “break.” That could not be further from the truth.

4. How can the DMV do this?

The law in Connecticut is that driving is a privilege, and they can suspend a driver’s license for multiple reasons. Recently, Governor Rell has created an initiative to be more aggressive against teen drivers to try to prevent more teen fatalities. In doing so, the state and local police have taken a zero tolerance approach.

5. What happens if there are multiple minors in the car where the beer was found?

Many times the police will simply issue a Possession of Alcohol by a Minor summons to every person in the car. Simply because you or your child was in the presence of alcohol does NOT mean there was legal possession. This is one area where we have been successful in defending the charges.

6. Why bother, when my child can live without driving for a few months?

Having a alcohol related suspension can have dramatic consequences. Insurance companies routinely raise rates or drop entire family’s when a minor has a alcohol related suspension. In the future, an alcohol related suspension can impact a person’s ability to get a work permit if their license is suspended for other reasons.

7. What do your services cost?

We can represent your child at court to try to negotiate for an alternative disposition than paying a $200 fine and having the license suspended. Depending on the court and the prosecutors, we have been successful in obtaining alternative resolutions such as charitable contributions, community service and outright dismissal of the cases based on legal or factual defenses.  Each case is different, so our fees are a flat fee with no additional costs depending on the facts of the case.  We do not charge for a telephone or in office consultationto help you make your decision on how you want to proceed.