Anyone's college student been arrested for public intoxication?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you have got to be from Virginia. Sent your kid to a Va college. And your comment re: the intelligence community seals it. A previous post said, "I think there is more to the story, otherwise everyone in college would have a similar charge" I've heard many such ridiculous stories in/around Va college campuses. It's a unique crazy

Yeah - Virginia is what I figured. If a minor has alcohol in them it's considered "in possession". And to all those who insist there's more to the story, please keep yourself out of Virginia while drinking. It is literally the nightly rounds that these cops do. My school had to intervene and tell the cops they had to stop doing ARRESTING kids for public intoxication because, in response, DUIs were increasing.

Just make sure he doesn't lie about anything now or in the future and no one will care.

[Anonymous]

I know that Virginia Tech started sending undercover ABC cops to football TAILGATES (that certainly didn’t happen when I was there). I have heard of many people getting citations while innocently at an event in the last couple of years. I am not surprised.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, the state started sending undercover cops to Virginia Tech tailgates. I doubt the school has any say in the matter or requested it.

[Anonymous]

Op, in a week or so your student will receive an avalanche of letters from lawyers advertising their services. My firm used to send them, but we work mostly on word of mouth now. Talk to a few of those. You can also ask friends and family for referrals for criminal defense attorneys - you want someone in court daily, not someone who mostly does real estate and the occasional speeding ticket. The hope in these cases is to get something expungable, but that is not always possible. Dismissal is likely with the correct preparation. Eventual expungment is possible, but not a given.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems odd, unless he was stumbling or neighbors complained about under age drinking, that they would approach a person who is not attempting to drive and give them a breathalyzer??

+1
It is possible that your son had bad luck and ran into a cop who doesn't use his discretion wisely, and that's an understatement. But I think there is more to the story, otherwise everyone in college would have a similar charge.

As far as a security clearance goes, I know people with TS clearances who have done much worse.

OP here. There isn't more to this story. I had my son write out a full statement and told him to be unsparingly honest about any and all details. The facts are: he was drinking at a house party. He walked out the front door to find his roommate (who was actually still inside the house), and made eye contact with a police officer who was waiting on the sidewalk. The officer told him to come over to him, which my son did. The officer told him he was inebriated, and my son didn't contradict him or in any way talk back. There was no profanity at all. The officer gave him a breathalyzer test, after which he told him he was under arrest, put him in handcuffs, and drove him to the station. That was the extent of the encounter. My son wasn't acting disruptive, loud, disorderly, or in any way inappropriately - though he fully admits he was drunk.

I spoke with a couple of lawyers in this town today and one of them said she knows the arresting officer and that he does this kind of thing often - waits for an unsuspecting kid to come out of a house or apartment building, and then charges them.

[Anonymous]

When my son's roommate got caught with a fake ID they called a lawyer in town and he said if he was with friends he give a 10% discount for each extra kid refers. There were 3 of them so he got a 20% discount.

White dudes getting rich off fake crimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PPs. To answer some of the questions, he was not belligerent at all. He said he was completely stunned and very cooperative. The police kept him overnight and did not let him make a phone call - is that legal? They released him the next day after his blood/alcohol level was stable.

Sorry if I'm not using the correct terminology, I'm not in the legal field nor am I familiar with these charges. He texted me pictures of the ticket/summons, with the charges - public intoxication and possession of alcohol under age 21.

A PP mentioned security clearances and this is exactly what we're concerned about as he hopes to work with the intelligence community at some point.




Do something to show contrition -- e.g. alcohol and drug education. Getting drunk in college once will not hurt an intelligence or law enforcement career unless he LIES about it. The thing he needs to be aware of if he ever wants to hold a position with a security clearance is that they will speak to people who knew him back in college and ask about his habits, drug use, alcohol use.

Happened to me. It was totally fine. I am a fed now. Really not a big deal although I'm sure it feels like it now. Be nice to your child, a night in jail is traumatic regardless of why he was there. I just got screamed at and still resent the way my parents handled it.

What state/school was he at? I'm guessing the south

Thanks, PP. Yes, we've been upset, but more empathetic than anything. He did seem to be completely shell shocked by the experience and is very scared about what might happen. Even though I'm annoyed, I really just want to give him a big hug and tell him it'll be ok - though I don't know if that's true. At any rate, he's definitely learned his lesson re: drinking underage. I don't want to say what school/state until this is all over with.

[Anonymous]

Happened to me 3x in college. Not public intoxication but underage drinking. I didn’t even tell my parents but called the law schools legal clinic that handled the whole thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you keep speaking as if your son is blameless - t being disruptive, noisy.

You truly have no idea. I’m not saying he deserves hard time, but he was breaking the state’s drinking laws and may well have no clue how drunk and disorderly he was. Perhaps he was urinating in the bushes?

The point is it doesn’t matter. This is, hopefully, a teachable moment and he will get his partying under control. Or this could be what he’s been doing every weekend, the only way he and his friends know how to unwind, and this is just the first time he got caught. In which case I would be a bit grateful.

OP here and nowhere did I say my son is "blameless" - I said he (and we) take full responsibility for the fact that he was drinking underage. Period. The charges weren't disorderly conduct or urinating in public. One attorney advised him to go to the police station and request a copy of the police report so we can see exactly what the arresting officer witnessed. And we'd also like to see the body camera footage as well, as hopefully that will confirm that he wasn't acting belligerent in any way.

Yes, this is absolutely a teachable moment. I agree with you there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems odd, unless he was stumbling or neighbors complained about under age drinking, that they would approach a person who is not attempting to drive and give them a breathalyzer??

OP here; this is exactly what we thought. He wasn’t driving (doesn’t even have a car at school) and was simply leaving the house. While we fully accept the fact that he had been drinking, he was not disorderly or bothering anyone. And he wasn’t even in “public” until he stepped out of the house. Seems like a warning would have been a lot more appropriate.

You said he was charged with "possession of alcohol" Was he carrying a can of beer? Bc that might have prompted the cop to engage with him.

No, he wasn't carrying anything. "Possession" apparently can refer to simply having ingested alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Get a lawyer and try to get it dismissed. These things can haunt a kid - police, security clearances, jobs and insurance. The cop that arrested him is likely a town bully who hates college kids. So he needs to watch out for Officer so and so.

[Anonymous]

Was your DS at an OFF campus house when this incident occurred? Was this in Williamsburg?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that Virginia Tech started sending undercover ABC cops to football TAILGATES (that certainly didn’t happen when I was there). I have heard of many people getting citations while innocently at an event in the last couple of years. I am not surprised.

VA Tech was my first thought too. They are notorious for watching kids at tailgates and anyone walking around with an open container.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you keep speaking as if your son is blameless - t being disruptive, noisy.

You truly have no idea. I’m not saying he deserves hard time, but he was breaking the state’s drinking laws and may well have no clue how drunk and disorderly he was. Perhaps he was urinating in the bushes?

The point is it doesn’t matter. This is, hopefully, a teachable moment and he will get his partying under control. Or this could be what he’s been doing every weekend, the only way he and his friends know how to unwind, and this is just the first time he got caught. In which case I would be a bit grateful.

OP here and nowhere did I say my son is "blameless" - I said he (and we) take full responsibility for the fact that he was drinking underage. Period. The charges weren't disorderly conduct or urinating in public. One attorney advised him to go to the police station and request a copy of the police report so we can see exactly what the arresting officer witnessed. And we'd also like to see the body camera footage as well, as hopefully that will confirm that he wasn't acting belligerent in any way.

Yes, this is absolutely a teachable moment. I agree with you there.

So the police can get a complaint about a loud house party. They will screen people as they leave. They look for anyone who looks underage and drunk. Just tell us the state and you can get a lot more information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PPs. To answer some of the questions, he was not belligerent at all. He said he was completely stunned and very cooperative. The police kept him overnight and did not let him make a phone call - is that legal? They released him the next day after his blood/alcohol level was stable.

Sorry if I'm not using the correct terminology, I'm not in the legal field nor am I familiar with these charges. He texted me pictures of the ticket/summons, with the charges - public intoxication and possession of alcohol under age 21.

A PP mentioned security clearances and this is exactly what we're concerned about as he hopes to work with the intelligence community at some point.




Do something to show contrition -- e.g. alcohol and drug education. Getting drunk in college once will not hurt an intelligence or law enforcement career unless he LIES about it. The thing he needs to be aware of if he ever wants to hold a position with a security clearance is that they will speak to people who knew him back in college and ask about his habits, drug use, alcohol use.

Happened to me. It was totally fine. I am a fed now. Really not a big deal although I'm sure it feels like it now. Be nice to your child, a night in jail is traumatic regardless of why he was there. I just got screamed at and still resent the way my parents handled it.

What state/school was he at? I'm guessing the south

Thanks, PP. Yes, we've been upset, but more empathetic than anything. He did seem to be completely shell shocked by the experience and is very scared about what might happen. Even though I'm annoyed, I really just want to give him a big hug and tell him it'll be ok - though I don't know if that's true. At any rate, he's definitely learned his lesson re: drinking underage. I don't want to say what school/state until this is all over with.

Give him, and yourself, a big hug. It's traumatic for both of you and right now you both need love and support. He from you, and you from friends/family. It was a big changing point in my life and actually still signifies in my mind the lack of support and love I had from my parents when it came down to it. Kids make mistakes it sounds like he is remorseful. This may be a good time to show that even at the worst times you'll be there to 1. Love him and 2. Teach him.

I wish I could give you a hug!

Good luck. This too shall pass.