Fairfax Underage Drinking Lawyer
Getting arrested in Fairfax, Virginia for underage drinking is no laughing matter. In fact, it can land both young people and their parents in legal hot water and even jail. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines underage drinking as “the purchase (or attempted purchase), possession and/or consumption of alcohol containing substances while under the legal state age”. Virginia law provides two family exceptions which allow persons under the age of 21 to possess alcoholic beverages to make delivery of such beverages “by order or consent of the parent”; and “when an alcoholic beverage is presented to an underage guest in a private residence when the guest is accompanied by their legal guardian or parent. (See VA § 4. 1-305 & 4. 1-200)
Impact of Underage Drinking in Fairfax VA
With one-in-six 12-graders reporting binge drinking at some point in their high school careers, underage drinking and other substance abuse are on the rise in Fairfax and other areas in Virginia. A Fairfax Underage Drinking Lawyer can help to interpret the law and reduce fines and even jail time associated with this offense.
The Fairfax County Youth Survey, conducted in 2012, advised that alcohol is the most commonly used substance by ninth to twelfth graders, adding that:
- Alcohol use increases by 63 percent from 9th to 12th-grade level
- 36 percent of these students have used alcohol at least once
- 34 percent of youth report using alcohol by the age of 12
- 9 percent of those 16 years or older have operated a vehicle while drinking
Considering that young people are interested in developing their social groups, engaging in parties and dating at this stage of life; the use of alcohol can often play a big role in their activities – with or without parental consent.
Legal Action Concerning Fairfax Underage Drinking
In Virginia, as in many states, a report of a loud party and possible underage drinking from a good citizen will often result in a visit from the local police department. In a single night, dozens of young people can be rounded up and arrested on suspicion of underage drinking – leaving their parents to clean up the mess. A Fairfax underage drinking lawyer is often the first call to get legal support to unravel the laws surrounding this type of unfortunate event.
There are specific legal actions that happen when a young person or his or her parents or suppliers are arrested for underage drinking statutes. These can include:
- Intent to Supply or Distribute – In some cases, a young person may be offered alcoholic beverages by an unauthorized person or without the permission of parents. Any adult caught supplying, selling or showing intent to provide alcohol to minors can be subject to legal action.
- Intent to Buy – Young people often try to offer cash or a fake identification in order to obtain alcoholic beverages or to enter a place of business that serves alcoholic beverages. Whether they actually obtain the alcohol or not, they can be arrested on charges of underage drinking.
- Possession of Alcohol – Being found in possession of an alcoholic beverage as an underage person can get you arrested unless you have your parents’ permission. This is often a simple misunderstanding that can cost a great deal of time and effort to sort out.
- Consumption and Drunkenness – If a young person is caught consuming or is has become intoxicated from alcohol, it’s very hard to escape punishment for this. A Fairfax underage drinking lawyer can help to reduce and even have the charges dropped for a first time offender.
Underage Drinking Causes Civil and Criminal Charges
In many cases, a young person doesn’t know the law very well in regards to underage drinking in Fairfax County. This is when a qualified Fairfax underage drinking attorney can help the victim seek legal protection. Possible criminal and civil charges can ensue, from the side of young people who have been arrested, their parents, and those accused of supplying or selling alcohol to minors – all of whom have to prove innocence in a court of law. If the use of alcohol has resulted in criminal charges, such as damage to property, injury or death; a lawyer can help both sides to settle either out of court or through the standard legal process.
Sources:
State Profiles of Underage Drinking Laws, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/APIS_State_Profile.html?state=VA
Fairfax County Youth Survey, Fairfax County Government
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demogrph/pdf/youthsurveyfacts_alcohol_use.pdf
Fairfax Traffic Lawyer
Each year, nearly 122 thousand vehicle crashes are reported in the state of Virginia, with about half of those resulting in serious injuries. As of most recent figures from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, these accidents resulted in 741 deaths. In 2013, in Fairfax County alone, 40 people were reported as deceased as a result of a vehicle accident. Imagine the pain, suffering, and astronomical costs that each one of these events caused to the surviving family members and victims?
In Virginia, finding a qualified Fairfax Traffic Lawyer can help protect your rights as a vehicle consumer or accident victim. If you or a loved one has been hurt as a result of the improper use or operation of a motor vehicle, you’ve been arrested and ticketed for a vehicle-related offense, or if you have suffered a catastrophic loss as a result of mechanical failure – a Fairfax traffic lawyer can help.
Legal Actions Managed by Fairfax Traffic Lawyers
Fairfax has several legal statutes that fall under Section 82 of current Virginia Motor Vehicle and Traffic laws. It is up to Fairfax traffic lawyers to expertly defend the rights of their clients under these laws, and to ensure that victims’ and their families are protected. Some example legal actions that knowledgeable traffic lawyers will handle in Fairfax include:
- Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other impairment
- Parking and speeding tickets, traffic violations, and arrest
- Vehicle vs. pedestrian lawsuits and accidents
- Underage or unlicensed driving or operation of motor vehicle
- Vehicle accidents that cause property damage or serious injury
Penalties for Accidents and Tickets in Fairfax
Depending on the nature of the vehicle-related event, a Fairfax traffic lawyer is able to help their clients’ defend their rights to release or reduce the penalties they may experience. A simple moving violation or parking ticket can rack up fees totaling hundreds of dollars if not handled properly. A more serious vehicle offense can result in jail time and hundreds of thousands of dollars in accident and injury claims by the time insurance companies get involved.
Life Impact for Fairfax Traffic Tickets and Accidents
A motor vehicle accident in Fairfax can have a terrible impact on the life of the driver, as well as the victims. This varies widely from one event to another, and on the severity of the accident itself. The National Safety Council (NSC) provides some estimates for the costs and impact of a motor vehicle accident, based on 2012 figures:
- Cost of a single death: $1.4 million
- Cost of a single non-fatal disabling injury: $78,900
- Cost of property damage from a crash: $8,900
However, keep in mind that the overall impact of a single accident, whatever the cause or results, is often felt for life. It can take months and even years for an accident victim to resume normal lifestyle again. If someone has been seriously disabled during a motor vehicle accident, or if property damage has occurred, they and their families suffer the consequences. Having a Fairfax Traffic Lawyer can help to make sure that the victims and survivors are well protected and have access to financial support for the remaining years of their lives.
Criminal and Civic Action in Traffic Related Events
In civic cases, private citizens sue others for the cost that fall outside of the settlements offered by motor vehicle insurance claims. This can be devastating to anyone involved in a vehicle accident lawsuit – taking years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to sort out. A Fairfax Traffic Lawyer can help individuals and their families with real legal advice and support to avoid these types of frivolous lawsuits.
A Fairfax attorney who handles traffic cases can also help those who are found to be criminally negligent, so they may not spend as much time behind bars. Criminal cases often spring up out of traffic accidents that are the result of drug and alcohol use, or by the actions of young people who are inexperienced drivers. One slip-up that happens behind the wheel of a vehicle and someone can be seriously hurt or killed in seconds. Criminal cases are costly matters, and a driver may not know where to turn to for legal advice – accepting a guilty plea instead of demanding a qualified traffic attorney.
Sources:
2014 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts, VA Department of Motor Vehicles
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/safety/#crash_data/crash_facts/index.asp
2014 Safety Crash Data by Jurisdiction, VA Department of Motor Vehicles
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/safety/crash_data/total/pdf/fatality_juris.pdf
Virginia Government
https://library.municode.com/HTML/10051/level2/THCOCOFAVI1976_CH82MOVETR.html#TOPTITLE
National Safety Council
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