Minors in possession of alcohol could have the opportunity to be caught twice before getting a misdemeanor on their records, if new legislation becomes law.
State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, is drafting a bill that could potentially decriminalize underage drinkers. The bill would move the current law from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction.
“The problem with this being a misdemeanor is that it follows you for the rest of your life. You have a criminal record,” Jones said. “It has kept some young people out of college. It has kept some young people from getting scholarships. It has kept some people from getting the job that they wanted.”
Jones’ idea of implementing a strike-like system would not encourage students to drink recklessly, he said.
“I know that currently this misdemeanor is not a deterrent, so I think ... (to) not tie somebody’s life with a criminal record is the best direction to go in,” Jones said.
Jones said a minor in possession charge can be given to anyone 17 years of age or older for as little as possessing or consuming one beer.
“Make the fine high enough that people would not want to get caught doing it, but not something that will ruin somebody’s life,” Jones said.
Agribusiness management sophomore Ryan Block said the current system of giving misdemeanor charges to underage individuals is exaggerated.
“I think that it is blown out of proportion,” Block said. “I think it’s not something that the legal system needs to manage, but it’s something that needs to have more of a social code.”
Human development and family studies freshman Claudia Cabrera-Rodríguez said the idea of giving an opportunity to fellow underage students is a good idea.
“Obviously you make mistakes when you are younger,” Cabrera-Rodríguez said. “I think it’s a good thing in a sense because you still have responsibility for your actions but it shouldn’t be something held against you when you are 30 and you have your established career.”
The soon-to-be-proposed system will be beneficial to students, Cabrera-Rodríguez said.
“I think that now that they know there are strikes, it might be a little bit better,” Cabrera-Rodríguez said. “It gives them more chances to test the waters of what they are trying to do.”
If applied to MSU, many underage students would benefit from the proposed bill.
According to the MSU Clery log, 87 individuals have been charged with minor in possession from January to March this year.
Another reason to introduce the bill is to help improve the flow of the court system, Jones said.
“According to two different prosecutors, they say that in their counties a lot of minor in possession cases ... pleading not guilty, (are) going into court and clogging up the courts,” Jones said.
