September 1, 1998

Pete Eubanks, Staff Wrtiter
 

Remember your friend that’s under 21 and got a drinking ticket at a party last weekend?

Maybe you were the unlucky one that got caught.

According to Deputy Clerk of Court Chris King at the Watauga County Courthouse, 75 percent of the people that pay a drinking ticket don’t realize that the ticket will become a part of their record and stay with them forever.

If someone has told you that a drinking ticket doesn’t go on your criminal record, then you’ve been mislead, said King.

“If you are issued one of these citations, and you come in and just pay it off, then you’re admitting guilt,” said King.

The law states that anyone under 18 who is caught possessing an alcoholic beverage is charged with a misdemeanor.

A person that is 19 or 20 is charged with an infraction.

An infraction, as stated in the North Carolina General Statutes, is “an unlawful act that is not a crime.”  An infraction is not as serious as a misdemeanor.
When a person is charged with an infraction, it’s probably best just to pay the ticket, but if charged with a misdemeanor, one may want to get a deferral, said King.

With a deferral, a person is admitting guilt.   However, they must also  pay a fine and do community service.  Then the charge is dismissed, said King.
It is always best to be informed about the charge, which means reading the ticket closely or asking a reliable source exactly what the charge means, said King.

“You don’t actually have to be caught with a beer.  If an officer smells alcohol on your breath, then you can be considered a container,” said King.
 
According to Lt. Curtis Main, the Boone Police Department has made no special efforts to crack down on underage drinking at the beginning of the school year, but parties are just more prevalent early in the school year.

Fifty-five drinking tickets were issued by the Boone Police Department from the week of August 17 to August 24, said Main.

 For more information, or to ask questions, call the Watauga County Clerk of Court’s office at 264-5430.