Post by Logan on Mar 3, 2016 13:16:58 GMT -6
Michigan Senate votes to decriminalize minor in possession charge
LANSING -- People under the age of 21 may get some relief from laws that make them criminals for underage drinking.
Under legislation that passed the state Senate Thursday on a 36-2 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 which carries a $500 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 statistics from the Michigan State Police..
But Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, sponsored the legislation because he doesn’t think kids should be put in jail for drinking a beer.
Read more: www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/03/michigan-senate-votes-decriminalize-minor-possession-charge/81265448/
LANSING -- People under the age of 21 may get some relief from laws that make them criminals for underage drinking.
Under legislation that passed the state Senate Thursday on a 36-2 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 which carries a $500 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 statistics from the Michigan State Police..
But Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, sponsored the legislation because he doesn’t think kids should be put in jail for drinking a beer.
Read more: www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/03/michigan-senate-votes-decriminalize-minor-possession-charge/81265448/