15 y/o MIP-what should we expect?

[worried_sister]

Hello,

The first weekend of May my 15 year old brother got an MIP and I am hoping that you can provide your insight as to what my family should expect.

Here is the story:

My brother is 15 years old and lives in a small town in East King County. He and some friends where collecting plants for a school project and one of the boys brought beer that their older brother bought. Long story short, all the boys were drinking but one as he needed to go into town later to pick up some friends for the project. When it was time to leave, he asked my brother to come with him into town and my brother said yes. Being a relatively small boy, my brother didn't handle his first time drinking very well and puked inside his friends car while driving to pick up the friends. The friend works at a local golf course that was nearby and pulled in to use their hose to clean out the car. A police officer was driving around town and saw headlights at the golf course and pulled in to find the boy cleaning his car and my brother suffering from puking his guts out. The police officer asked him if he had been drinking and at first he said "No" for fear of getting in trouble, but quickly said yes and came clean that he had 5 beers. He was asked to give a breathalyzer and he blew a 0.07. He was cuffed, read his rights and taken downtown- and puked on the way in the cop car. My parents were called and they picked up him.

This was 6 weeks ago and we have yet to receive a ticket in the mail. My parents are friends with a police officer in the same city that wasn't on the scene and he gave them a case number, so we are thinking the ticket is on its way.

My brother was 15 at the time (he turned 16 later that month and got his license). He has a job, plays sports, is in advanced classes in school (albeit a typical boy and gets average grades despite his intellegence) and has never been in trouble. My parents run a pretty tight ship so we know this was his first time drinking. My parents are not letting him drive, despite having his license and are punishing him appropriately. My parents are concerned for the town's impression of them as both are teachers and well known in the community.

What should we expect legally? Is there a real chance he will lose his license or go to jail or is that held for "bad" kids or repeat offenders? My web searches bring up some pretty scary results. The thought of my baby brother going to jail makes me sick to my stomach. I am hoping that he will only be fined and required to attend alcohol awareness classes and/or do community service and actually think classes would be good for him as kids need to learn this stuff. Should we hire a lawyer? Does it normally take this long to get the ticket in the mail?

Please know that we do realize how serious his extremely poor decision was and we are NOT taking it lightly.

I appreciate your honest, candid feedback. We have been in the dark for six weeks know and are dying with not knowing what is going to happen.

Thank you,

Worried sister

[Darin]

In my jurisdiction he'd lose his license for 30 days or so. He'd get a fine but no "jail" time. Hopefully this will scare him straight.

[txinvestigator1]

To think that a person just happens to get caught the first time drinking is pretty naive.

[worried_sister]

By the way, I live in Washington State, King County.

I appreciate your constructive thoughts and insights.

[TX-LEO]

Hello,

The first weekend of May my 15 year old brother got an MIP and I am hoping that you can provide your insight as to what my family should expect.

Not interested in the story, thats for the judge.

What he should expect is, community service, fines and more court dates. He may and should also face a driver license suspension, or the inability to obtain one as punishment in many states, for a period of time determined by the court, and state law.

[drummer-eman]

.07 and he had 5 beers?
Im thinking he was more like a .10 or higher especially if he is only 15, how big can he be?

As far as legal ramifications, its state specific. PA he would lose his license on a guilty adjudication for 30-60 days. He would pay a fine up to $300.00 and some community service probably.
15 is way too young to be getting a MIP, not that 20 is better but at least 20 is supposed to be an adult:rolleyes:

The summons will appear in the mail, it can take weeks

[worried_sister]

I agree, way too young. He is on the smaller side, but had been puking his guts out and a few hours passed so I guess that is why his reading was 'low'.

I appreciate your input. Oh, my stupid brother....

[mcsap]

He learned a lot that night , unfortunately it was the hard way. Consider this...it is better that he got an MIP than a DUI. Hopefully he will remember this for a long time.