Criminal Law...Help Needed!

[kgriffey79]

Just woke up after getting in a little trouble with the law last night. I was walking down the street after going Saki Bombing and got an MIP. My charges read as follows.
VIOLATION #1
Under 21 with alcohol in body (.25)
VIOLATION #2
Fale Reporting to Law Inforcement(WTF? I cooperated!)

VIOLATION #3
Unlawful Use of License (Unlawful)

I am supposed to appear in court on DEC 16, but I won’t be in Arizona on that date, as I will be at home in Eugene. Can I just mail in the money as if it were a traffic ticket? Or What?

[Otto]

1. Read the citation.
2. Talk to a lawyer licensed in AZ.
3. Call the court for instructions.
4. Don’t ask for specific legal advice on internet message boards.

[Bear_Nenno]

13-2907.01. False reporting to law enforcement agencies; classification
A. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly make to a law enforcement agency of either this state or a political subdivision of this state a false, fraudulent or unfounded report or statement or to knowingly misrepresent a fact for the purpose of interfering with the orderly operation of a law enforcement agency or misleading a peace officer.
B. Violation of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor.

You say you cooperated, but did you lie at anytime? Did you try to say you were 21 in the begining? Also, at a .25, don’t you think you might have said some bullshit that just wasn’t true? Or tried to convince them you were old enough?

[quote]
From 4-421:
E. A person who is under the legal drinking age and who uses a fraudulent or false written instrument of identification or identification of another person or uses a valid license or identification of another person to gain access to a licensed establishment is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor

[quote]
Is this the one you were charged with? Did you use a buddy’s ID? You could lose your license if you did.

From 4-424:
It is unlawful:
40. For a person under the age of twenty-one years to have in the person’s body any spirituous liquor. In a prosecution for a violation of this paragraph:
(a) Pursuant to section 4-249, it is a defense that the spirituous liquor was consumed in connection with the bona fide practice of a religious belief or as an integral part of a religious exercise and in a manner not dangerous to public health or safety.
(b) Pursuant to section 4-226, it is a defense that the spirituous liquor was consumed for a bona fide medicinal purpose and in a manner not dangerous to public health or safety.

Dont even think you’ll be able to convince them you got a .25 BAL drinking wine at mass…

These are criminal charges so you can’t just Pay a Fine. If you can’t make that court date, you can try to get the court to reschedule (good luck). If you absolutely can’t make the court date, retain an attorney! He can show up there and represent you without your presence. Those are the only options I can see.
IANAL and Otto is correct in all 4 points. Especially if you can’t make that date, you will need a lawyer. He will show up there and take care of it for you.

[Bear_Nenno]

13-2907.01. False reporting to law enforcement agencies; classification
A. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly make to a law enforcement agency of either this state or a political subdivision of this state a false, fraudulent or unfounded report or statement or to knowingly misrepresent a fact for the purpose of interfering with the orderly operation of a law enforcement agency or misleading a peace officer.
B. Violation of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor.

You say you cooperated, but did you lie at anytime? Did you try to say you were 21 in the begining? Also, at a .25, don’t you think you might have said some bullshit that just wasn’t true? Or tried to convince them you were old enough?

From 4-421:
E. A person who is under the legal drinking age and who uses a fraudulent or false written instrument of identification or identification of another person or uses a valid license or identification of another person to gain access to a licensed establishment is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor

Is this the one you were charged with? Did you use a buddy’s ID? You could lose your license if you did.

From 4-424:
It is unlawful:
40. For a person under the age of twenty-one years to have in the person’s body any spirituous liquor. In a prosecution for a violation of this paragraph:
(a) Pursuant to section 4-249, it is a defense that the spirituous liquor was consumed in connection with the bona fide practice of a religious belief or as an integral part of a religious exercise and in a manner not dangerous to public health or safety.
(b) Pursuant to section 4-226, it is a defense that the spirituous liquor was consumed for a bona fide medicinal purpose and in a manner not dangerous to public health or safety.

Dont even think you’ll be able to convince them you got a .25 BAL drinking wine at mass…

These are criminal charges so you can’t just Pay a Fine. If you can’t make that court date, you can try to get the court to reschedule (good luck). If you absolutely can’t make the court date, retain an attorney! He can show up there and represent you without your presence. Those are the only options I can see.
IANAL and Otto is correct in all 4 points. Especially if you can’t make that date, you will need a lawyer. He will show up there and take care of it for you.

[suezeekay]

I agree with getting an attorney to represent you in court if you can’t be there. My daughter-in-law was charged with criminal trespass in a yogurt shop. When she went to get her final check, the owner, who was mad at her for quitting, called the police when she went behind the counter. She left the mall which was a bad idea, so the policeman had only his word. Anyway, my point is, that I hired an attorney and she didn’t have to appear in court. He represented her and she got some small community service. I would contact an attorney right away and find out if you can do this in Arizona. Don’t waste a minute because the attorney will have to do some paperwork and talk to you and schedule the court appearance. Plus, you will have to pay him a retainer before he does any work. Any money that he doesn’t bill for will be refunded (however this doesn’t usually happen). If you could lose your license it could be very serious because federal law now makes this reciprocal and they will notify your state. Talk to an attorney and follow his advice. You have no other choice.