Bellevue Minor in Possession Attorney
Arrested for Underage Drinking or Drug Use? Call Us Today!
It’s fairly normal for juveniles to push their boundaries as they near adulthood, but unfortunately, pushing those boundaries too far can result in serious legal consequences. Washington State law takes underage drinking and drug use very seriously and can punish it with costly fines, jail time, and other penalties.
If you are an underage juvenile or the parent of one charged with a minor-in-possession offense, you need dedicated legal assistance to help you achieve the best possible outcome. At Veitch Ault Defense, we can help clients fight their charges when they are arrested for underage drinking or drug use. We leverage our extensive experience to protect our clients’ rights and ensure they are fairly treated by the system – all while working toward securing the brightest possible futures for them.
Whether you, your child, or another juvenile in your life needs help from a Bellevue minor in possession attorney, reach out to Veitch Ault Defense for legal support today.
Get in touch with our team by contacting us online or by calling 425-452-1600 .
What Does ‘Minor in Possession’ Mean?
There are many different circumstances under which a juvenile can be arrested for minor in possession or a related offense.
Not only can someone aged 13-20 be arrested for physically possessing alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs, they can also be arrested for exhibiting signs of being under the influence or testing positive for the presence of a substance in their system.
Possession/Consumption of a Minor
Under Washington State law, it is unlawful for anyone younger than 21 years old to possess, consume, or otherwise acquire liquor of any kind. As a gross misdemeanor, this offense can be punished by sending a juvenile to serve up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Minor Exhibiting Effects in Public
It is also unlawful for a minor to be in public or be in a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated by liquor and exhibiting the effects of consuming it. A minor can be convicted of this offense if the odor of liquor was on their breath and if they were in possession or close to a container that had or recently contained liquor OR exhibited manner, speech, appearance, lack of coordination, or other behavior that exhibits signs of intoxication.
Furnishing Liquor to a Minor
Not only can juveniles face criminal penalties for possessing and/or consuming alcohol, but those who provide it to them can as well. In Washington State, it’s illegal for anyone to give, sell, or otherwise supply liquor to someone younger than 21 years old on their premises or premises that they control.
As a gross misdemeanor, this offense is punishable by up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines.
Additional Penalties
In addition to jail time and fines, minors who possess or consume alcohol can have their driver’s licenses suspended or revoked, depending upon how old they were at the time of the incident. License suspensions and revocations can apply regardless of whether or not driving or being in a vehicle related to the alleged incident.
In addition to criminal penalties, licensed bartenders who serve alcohol to minors can lose their licenses, and businesses that provide alcohol to minors can lose their licenses to sell liquor.
Avoiding penalties such as these is possible when you get assistance from our Bellevue minor in possession attorney. Reach out to Veitch Ault Defense today to learn more about what our lawyers can do for you!
Notable Exceptions
There are circumstances where laws that criminalize minors possessing and/or consuming alcohol do not apply. These are usually limited to situations where a parent or guardian provides alcohol to a minor who consumes it in the presence of that parent or guardian.
Contact Us for Legal Assistance
Do you need a minor in possession attorney in Bellevue to protect your rights or help a child accused of possessing or consuming alcohol? Get in touch with Veitch Ault Defense to see what our firm’s 40+ years of experience can do for you.
Request a consultation with our lawyer today by contacting Veitch Ault Defense online or calling 425-452-1600 .
Criminal Defense
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NHTSA training in both DWI Detection/Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (FST) along with Advanced Roadside Impairment Detection Enforcement (ARIDE)
If you were arrested for DUI anywhere in King County, the first few days matter. You have a short window to protect your license and begin addressing the court case.
Veitch Ault Defense offers free, confidential consultations. You can speak directly with an attorney about your situation, what to expect, and what steps to take next.
Call 425-452-1600 or contact us online to get started.
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Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
03 Domestic Violence
04 Harassment
06 Malicious Mischief
07 Minor in Possession
08 Negligent Driving
09 Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer
10 Reckless Driving
11 Resisting Arrest
Client Reviews
“If at any point you find yourself in the need of a professional in Robert's line of work, I cannot urge you enough to contact him and at least have the initial meeting.”
“I hired Rob to represent me and it was the best decision I believe I could have made. He actually won the initial DOL hearing for me (which is rare I understand now), meaning I didn't lose my license for 90 days as most charged people do.”
I have worked with a number of attorneys throughout my lifetime in a number of different capacities. And I definitely consider Rob to be of the highest caliber
I have used Rob & recommended him to other people. Rob is one of the most dedicated & thorough professionals I have encountered. Very skilled & dedicated to his trade.
My only regret is not contacting Rob right after my arrest. This was my first arrest and I had no idea what to do or to expect. Rob is easy to work with.
I did everything Rob wanted me to do and wound up with an absolutely ideal outcome for my circumstances.
I was referred to the Veitch law firm by a friend. Robert was always upfront about the “dance” that had to occur in going to court. This was very helpful.
Rob is very knowledgeable in his field of law and was able to convey to me how we would navigate through the process.
Rob treated my case as if I was his only client. I could tell he put a lot of thought into everything he did to support me. Rob took a lot of the burden off my shoulders, and he helped me every step of the way.
I will continue to and have already recommended Rob Ault, as an attorney to others in my situation. I sincerely believe the outcome we received would not be what it was, had he not been my attorney and on my side.
Good experience, happy with the case outcome, highly recommended. Rob is definitely who you want on your side in a case.
Amazing results, Rob gives you and your family the best legal services in the state. very professional and caring. 100% satisfaction with his services.
Rob successfully fought my DUI down to a Reckless Driving charge, and soon it will be dismissed off my record.
I couldn’t have asked for a better person/attorney on my side. Not only did he help with any and all questions (and I had many) but he answered them with ease and promptly.
Robert Ault did an excellent job representing our college student throughout all the phases of a difficult case over the past year with a DUI charge and plea of not guilty.
I have never had, heard, nor seen any attorney working so hard for their client as Mr. Robert Ault did for me. He has my unwavering support and complete endorsement. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking counsel for DUI/DWI defense.
Rob made a miracle happen in my case, I am glad I chose him. I talked to several other attorneys before him, and they said you are not walking out of this without at least a misdemeanor. Rob got it dismissed on one court day! He is definitely worth every penny.
Bellevue Office
2122 112th Ave. NE, Suite A200
Bellevue, WA 98004
Lynnwood Office
20102 Cedar Valley Rd., Suite 104
Lynnwood, WA 98036
Talk to a King County DUI Defense Attorney Today
Successful Defense of Hundreds of DUI Cases
7 years as Super Lawyer
Your First Initial Consultation Is Free
Dedicated to the Highest Level of Advocacy on Behalf of Their Clients
Each client is given their attorney’s personal cell phone # and can reach out at any time
We Have Successfully Defended Hundreds of DUI Cases
Reach Out to Us as Soon as Possible to Get the Best Solution For Your Case
For a free consultation to discuss your pending case or other legal matters, please call us any time at
or complete our online contact form. Our attorneys will explain the entire process surrounding your charge and remove the fear and uncertainty regarding your arrest. Our team should be your first call if you need a top-rated, dedicated, and responsive DUI/DWI or criminal defense attorney. If success in your legal matters is your only option, we hope that you will place your trust in top-rated Washington State DUI attorney Robert Ault.
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