What happens if you get caught underage drinking in Florida?

If you are arrested for underage drinking in Florida, you can be criminally charged and, if convicted, sentenced to fines and potentially even jail time. In this event, you need to balance protecting your legal rights with cooperating with law enforcement. Provide any required identification and information, but decline to answer questions or give a statement without an attorney present. You have the right to remain silent, and you should exercise that right to avoid making statements that could be used against you. Politely but firmly inform officers that you need to speak to an attorney before you can provide further statements or answer any questions. As soon as possible, reach out to BD Law for a free consultation and case review.

What is the maximum penalty for using a fake ID?

If you’re convicted of a third-degree felony offense for using a fake ID card, you could potentially face up to $5,000 in fines and up to five years in prison. These harsh penalties are exactly why it’s critical that you retain skilled legal counsel to help you fight these charges strategically and effectively. Our goal is to secure an outcome that minimizes the impact of this legal issue on your future. Depending on the facts of your situation, potential outcomes may include suppressing improperly obtained evidence against you, getting charges dropped or reduced, presenting a strong argument for a not-guilt verdict at trial, or pushing for lenient sentences, such as probation rather than jail time.

Do underage drinking and fake ID charges go on your record?

Yes, both underage drinking and possession of a fake ID card are criminal offenses that can remain on your record for years. If a prospective employer, college admissions officer, scholarship committee, landlord, or another party runs a background check on you, this unfortunate incident could stand in the way of achieving your goals. It doesn’t have to be this way. Working with an experienced attorney can help you make smart choices about how to approach the legal process. BD Law has a proven track record of securing outcomes that minimize the short-term and long-term consequences of criminal charges for our clients. Our efforts can often result in getting charges dropped or reduced to less severe violations. In court, our unwavering representation can help you secure a not-guilty verdict. Even if you are convicted, we can appeal any unfair treatment in the legal process, push for leniency in sentencing by introducing mitigating factors, and help you explore options such as expungement and record sealing later that could limit how much this issue continues to impact your life.

When can you be charged with an underage DUI in Florida?

Like many other states, Florida has embraced a zero-tolerance law when it comes to driving under the influence while underage. While the state must establish that a motorist age 21 or older either has a BAC of 0.08 or above or that their normal faculties are impaired by alcohol or drug use, the threshold for drivers under age 21 is much lower, at 0.02. A BAC of 0.02 is the lowest level of intoxication considered to have a measurable impact on the body. If you have been charged with an underage DUI, you need to take this matter seriously because you could be facing fines, surcharges, mandatory DUI program attendance, and potentially even jail time.

West Palm Beach Underage Drinking Lawyer | Fake ID Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL

Fake ID Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL Guiding You Through Legal Challenges of False Identification Use and Underage Drinking Charges in Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and Throughout South Florida

Under Florida’s strict laws, consuming alcohol underage is a serious offense. If you’re caught using a fake ID card to do so, you could face further trouble. As an experienced West Palm Beach underage drinking lawyer, BD Law’s Brandon Dinetz provides comprehensive legal representation to help young defendants find a path forward. One mistake or misunderstanding shouldn’t threaten your future, and we’re here to help minimize the consequences of these criminal charges on your life.

Whether you’ve been charged with underage possession or consumption of alcohol, driving under the influence (DUI) under Florida’s strict zero-tolerance laws, or flashing bartenders and liquor store clerks a fake identification card, you need reliable, professional guidance to move forward with minimal risk. BD Law offers free, confidential consultations, allowing you to understand your rights and the charges against you and explore your options for putting forward a strong defense. Contact us today to preserve your rights and begin building your legal strategy.

Underage Drinking and Fake ID Charges in West Palm Beach, FL

Young people often believe that charges involving underage drinking and possession of a fake ID are minor infractions, but that’s not the case. In Florida, these violations constitute criminal offenses—and even the least severe charge could result in jail time, fines, and the long-term ramifications of a criminal record.

If you are facing charges of this nature, you need to take them seriously and turn to an experienced legal professional at BD Law for help. An underage alcohol possession and fake ID attorney in West Palm Beach, FL, can help you understand the charges against you and begin planning your defense.

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Underage Possession of Alcohol

Florida law prohibits people under age 21 not only from drinking alcohol but also from even being in possession of it. Under Section 562.111, you generally cannot have alcoholic beverages in your possession if you are under the legal drinking age. This includes holding or handling a drink belonging to someone who is 21 or older, except in the course of your employment.

The law permits specific exceptions for individuals at least 18 years old but younger than 21 who are merely tasting (but not consuming) alcoholic beverages as part of their required curriculum at an accredited postsecondary educational institution, such as a culinary school or program. However, these exceptions are limited, and the alcohol in question must remain in the possession and control of authorized instructors.

Just possessing alcohol when you’re underage can constitute a second-degree misdemeanor, a crime that can go on your permanent record and result in significant penalties. In addition to a fine of up to $500, you could be sentenced to up to 60 days in jail.

For a second or subsequent offense of possession of alcohol under age 21, the charge can be elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor. Penalties can amount to fines of up to $1,000 and a prison term of up to one year.

A criminal conviction can impact your life in serious ways at any age, but as a minor or young adult, it can be particularly difficult to overcome these challenges. When applying to educational programs, scholarship programs, internships, and jobs, these offenses will appear on your background check, potentially limiting your opportunities. A jail sentence can put your plans for the future on hold, costing you your job or admission to or continuation in a college program. To preserve your future, you need to confront this legal issue with the guidance of skilled, professional counsel.

Underage DUI Charges

Drinking alcohol can impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely, but motorists under age 21 are subject to much stricter rules than older drivers. The legal blood alcohol or breath alcohol (BAC) limit for drivers who are of age is 0.08 in Florida, under Section 316.193 of Florida Statutes. However, the state’s zero-tolerance law for offenders under 21, as established by Section 322.2616 of Florida Statutes, means that you can be charged with a DUI if you have a BAC of just 0.02—the lowest level of intoxication that has any measurable effect on the body.

For an underage DUI, you could face fines, surcharges and other financial penalties, mandatory attendance in a DUI program, and potentially even jail time. Florida law allows for prison sentences of up to six months for a first DUI offense and up to nine months for a second DUI offense to be imposed.

Possession of a Fake ID Card

Because establishments that sell or serve alcoholic beverages are prohibited from furnishing alcohol to underage customers, the use of fake or fraudulent identification cards is common. However, just having a fake ID in your possession can be sufficient to result in legal trouble, even if you haven’t actually attempted to use it for any illegal purposes.

Under Section 322.212 of Florida Statutes, it’s illegal to knowingly display or even possess a forged, counterfeit, fictitious, or stolen driver license or identification card. This statute also prohibits selling, manufacturing, or delivering fake ID cards, agreeing to supply a driver license through unlawful means, and applying for an identification card with a fake name.

You might be surprised to learn that possession of a fake ID is a more serious criminal violation than underage drinking or even a DUI. Florida law generally characterizes this violation as a third-degree felony offense. If convicted, you could face up to $5,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.

Alcohol-Related Offenses

You can face serious consequences for underage drinking even if no one gets hurt. However, you could be subject to even more serious charges and penalties if underage drinking is combined with conduct that disturbs the peace, damages property, or injures another person. Our firm provides comprehensive criminal defense representation for matters arising out of underage alcohol consumption, from disorderly intoxication and disorderly conduct to simple assault and battery and even DUI manslaughter.

Fighting Underage Alcohol-Related Charges With an Experienced Fake ID Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL

On your own, you’re likely to make common but detrimental mistakes as you navigate the legal process. Trying to explain yourself to law enforcement officers or hide or destroy potential evidence against you can weaken your defense or result in even more serious legal troubles. Accepting a plea deal without professional legal guidance could result in facing harsh sentences that could have been avoided.

To preserve your rights, provide legal advice you can rely on, and develop a compelling case in your defense, you need a knowledgeable attorney on your side from the start. We know the nuances of underage drinking laws, South Florida’s local legal landscape, and what it takes to put up a strong, effective defense.

How BD Law Can Help When You’re Facing Underage Drinking Charges

Retaining a dedicated West Palm Beach underage drinking lawyer to represent you in this legal battle means you never have to face the criminal justice process alone. Our firm will be here to answer every question you have, advocate for your interests in every legal proceeding, and ensure fair treatment under the law.

We defend young offenders successfully by:

Diligently analyzing the circumstances of your case
Exploring all avenues of legal defense to develop the strategy that offers the most promising path forward
Advocating for dismissal or reduction of charges and leniency in sentencing
Negotiating favorable deals with the prosecution when appropriate
Seeking to suppress any improperly obtained evidence against you

There are defenses that can be used to fight back against charges of underage drinking or possession of a fake ID effectively, including lack of knowledge or intention to violate the law, lack of actual possession of the beverage or identification card, false allegations, and mistaken identity. Every case is different, which is why BD Law builds customized defense strategies for every client we represent, with the aim of minimizing the impact of these charges on your life.

Why Choose BD Law as Your West Palm Beach Underage Drinking Lawyer?

With BD Law on your side, you’ll have a dedicated West Palm Beach underage drinking lawyer fighting for you. Our firm brings legal experience, excellent results, and an empathetic approach to client service to every case we handle.

Experience You Can Count on for Your Defense

When it comes to recognizing the nuances of underage drinking violations and developing effective defense strategies, experience matters. Attorney Brandon Dinetz has a background as both a criminal defense attorney who fights tirelessly for his clients and a former prosecutor. Having served as Assistant State Attorney at the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, he has learned firsthand how prosecutors approach cases like yours.

A Proven Record of Success Defending the Accused

BD Law has secured favorable outcomes for numerous clients, protecting them from violations of their legal rights, unfair treatment under the legal system, and unnecessarily harsh penalties. We have gotten our clients’ charges dismissed or reduced, successfully convinced courts to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence, negotiated plea agreements that benefit our clients, and secured not-guilty verdicts in court.

Compassionate Client Service and Support

Everyone makes mistakes, but a simple lapse in judgment—especially on the part of a young person—shouldn’t define your future. At BD Law, we approach cases with the utmost professionalism and compassion. We recognize how stressful this situation is, and we’re committed to providing the comprehensive legal support you need to get through this difficult time and put this legal matter behind you to the fullest extent possible. Count on us for emphatic, non-judgmental guidance that’s focused on preserving your future, not on the mistakes you wish you could take back.

Contact a West Palm Beach Underage Drinking Lawyer at BD Law Today for a Free Case Review

Retaining an attorney can feel intimidating, but it’s nowhere near as challenging or risky as trying to take on the legal process yourself. At BD Law, we recognize that you need skilled support to make smart decisions about your legal defense.

Our firm provides a complimentary consultation, giving you a chance to speak with an experienced attorney, understand your rights and the consequences you’re facing, and get your questions answered. The initial consultation is free, confidential, and without risks or obligations—because everyone deserves the guidance necessary to make informed decisions about their legal matters.

For help from an underage drinking and fake ID attorney in West Palm Beach, FL, contact BD Law online or call 561-778-5213 today.