A Few Words from Jeff Lawler, Barrington Cheif of Police

Is it worth it?

Underage Possession of Alcohol  

Did you know that an underage person (under 21 years of age) may not purchase, receive, accept, have in his or her possession or control, or consume any alcoholic beverages? Did you know that it is also illegal for an underage person to remain in a vehicle, house, apartment, yard, or other area where one or more other underage persons are in possession of any alcoholic beverages? The owner of the vehicle, house or yard used by underage drinkers is also acting in an illegal manner and can be arrested.

Misrepresenting your age for the purpose of purchasing alcoholic liquor is illegal and carries additional legal sanctions.  Any person purchasing or obtaining alcohol may not give the alcohol to an underage person and will be arrested for doing so. 

If you are under 21 years old and are convicted of the illegal purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol, your driver’s license will be suspended for six months on the first conviction and for longer time periods for subsequent convictions.

Imagine the criminal and civil implications of providing alcohol, or a place to use alcohol if a minor becomes injured due to alcohol use.  The cost in legal fees, criminal penalties including jail time and loss of assets due to a civil penalty can be staggering. 

Do you think that the illegal use of alcoho by a minor is worth the consequences?

Driving under the Influence

Driving is a privilege and a great responsibility for adults and minors.  That priviledge is violated when an individual drives under the influence of alcohol.  The consequences are many for choosing to drive under the influence.  First there is the arrest, the towing of your vehicle and of course the blotter item in your local newspaper listing your name as arrested for DUI.  Then, there is the time away from school and work to attend court.  Then there is the administrative penalty for DUI.  The first offense for DUI is suspension of your driving privileges for three months.  In January of 2009 the administrative suspension for a first DUI is increased to six months.  If you refuse to take the test required of you when arrested for DUI the suspension period increases to twelve months.  If you are eligible to receive a driving relief permit in order to drive to work during the suspension period you mush have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device installed on your vehicle.  Drivers under 18 years old are not eligible for the judicial driving permit.

If the administrative suspension of your drivers license is not worthy of your attention, the criminal penalties may be.  On a first conviction of Driving Under the Influence you could receive jail time and a fine up to $2,500, and if you are under 21 years old you can receive a revocation of your drivers license for two years.

A DUI conviction is a permanent part of your driving record and you will be required to carry high-risk auto insurance for three years. (This means very expensive auto insurance!)  And then, before your license can be reinstated you will be required to complete an alcohol/drug evaluation and remedial education course, also at your cost.  All told, the total average cost for a DUI conviction in Illinois is $14,660.  That money could be better spent elsewhere, don’t you think?

Zero Tolerance

Now that you believe that you know the rules for underage drinking, I want to provide you with one more underage drinking law, Zero Tolerance.  If you are driving your vehicle and stopped by police and have any trace of alcohol in your body you will be arrested for violating the zero tolerance law.  You will lose your drivers license for three months if you take the required tests and fail and for six months if you refuse to take the tests.

It is your choice whether to possess or use alcohol while underage, or to drive your vehicle with alcohol in your body.  But, now that you know the consequences you need to ask yourself, is it worth it?