Question: If I am at a party where there is alcohol, and the police come but I am not drinking what can happen?
Answer: Arizona law (A.R.S. § 8-341) states that it is illegal for a minor to purchase, possess or consume liquor. 'Possess' is defined in A.R.S. § 13-105 as knowingly to have physical possession or otherwise to exercise dominion or control over something.
It is possible that you could be charged with possessing alcohol merely because you were in the same room or house as where the alcohol was being served because you were capable of exercising control over that alcohol. If you were convicted you could be ordered to pay a fine of up to $500 and perform community service. If you had prior juvenile conviction, you could be placed on probation, under house arrest or sent to juvenile hall.
On 02/24/02 Dave from MI said:
Well I blew 000 in my dorm room and still recieved an MIP because there were two 40's in the fridge which were mine but I told the cop they were not mine. Still recieved an MIP. Another comment... minors have control over alcohol in their own homes when their parents are away. It's easy to raid mommy's liquor cabinet, so that law is basically saying I could get an MIP for sitting in my own home?
On 11/25/01 M from AZ said:
From my personal experience, the police usually don't do anything when they bust a party. The person whose house the party is at is usually in the most trouble, but most people just run away. The police usually dump out the alcohol and tell everyone to make sure they have a sober ride home. I have been at one party where the police breathalized everyone and gave people MIPs. They only gave them to people who tested positive though, and anyone sober was free to go home. We had police come to school and talk and they basically told us that they aren't out to punish people making good decisi
On 11/21/01 Scum from MI said:
No body knows, possibly an MIP
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