My daughter was recently given a Minor in Possession ticket for walking near San Diego State University with a water bottle that had alcohol in it (she was reaching into her purse and took it out momentarily to find her phone when campus police swooped in). She had not been drinking at all and said she would take a breathalyzer. The cop said she did not seem intoxicated and gave her a ticket for an infraction. Later, a letter came to revise her charges to ADD an Open Container charge. When this happened, my daughter was a month away from turning 19. She has never been in any kind of trouble before and we understand that if she pleads guilty in traffic court she will almost certainly lose her driver's license for a year (even though she wasn't anywhere near a vehicle when this happened). She needs her car to get to work and school. We're at least hoping for a restricted license.
If anyone has any advice about whether to hire an attorney, to plead guilty or not guilty...or anything else, that would be most appreciated! She has to appear in traffic court by 10/26. Also, this did not technically happen ON campus, but on the perimeter where campus police patrol.
Thanks in advance!
If anyone has any advice about whether to hire an attorney, to plead guilty or not guilty...or anything else, that would be most appreciated! She has to appear in traffic court by 10/26. Also, this did not technically happen ON campus, but on the perimeter where campus police patrol.
Thanks in advance!