Drinking alcohol under the age that is allowable by the state (i.e. younger than 21 years of age) is something that happens all the time. And the state recognizes that people under the age of 21 are probably going to drink here and there. But because younger individuals tend to get into a little bit more trouble when alcohol is involved, the state has set limits. And when those limits are breached, the state can charge you with some fairly stiff penalties.
For instance, if you are caught drinking in the Delmar Loop of St Louis underage, then the police will cite you with a Minor in Possession charge. This type of charge is described as a Class B Misdemeanor. If you plead guilty, you should know that this type of charge can come with up to six (6) months of jail time and a $500 fine.
Pleading Guilty Is Not Your Best Option!!In addition, a guilty plea to this kind of charge will also result in an automatic suspension of your driving privileges for thirty (30) days. And if you go apply for a job, or rent an apartment, or take out a student loan, the MIP will show up on your record as a criminal conviction. Which means that anybody who runs a criminal background check on you (like a potential employer, or landlord, or student loan company) will see it (and it may result in your losing out on the opportunity).
So as you can see, the penalties for this type of charge are not insignificant. But it does not have to turn out this way!! There is a much better alternative than simply pleading guilty to the charge of Minor in Possession in the Delmar Loop of St Louis. Our goal would be to get the charge reduced to something minor (like “littering,” which does not even show up on your record), or to get the charge dropped altogether. And this is far better than pleading guilty!!
The affordable St. Louis criminal defense attorneys at The Bankruptcy Company have been taking care of criminal charges in Missouri for over ten (10) years. We specialize in making sure that your record stays clean, and so that you can move forward with life. And we want to do it all at an affordable price. The upfront fees for a misdemeanor charge start at $450. For certain felony cases, the fees are as low as $750. But the initial consultation to discuss your legal issues is free of charge. So contact us today to learn more!!
We have two main locations: in the Central West End of St. Louis, at 1 North Taylor (on the corner of Taylor and Laclede), 63108; and in the Twin Cities of Festus / Crystal City, at 1000 Truman Blvd (Highway 61/67), 63019.