TexanWithAQuery
New Member
My 16 year old son received a MIP citation last month after bringing a friend to another person's house in Hays County. He walked into the garage where there were a bunch of teenagers there and alcohol present. He did not imbibe and was there less than 5 minutes when cops arrived. They told everyone to stand against a wall and asked who had been drinking. None admitted to it so the cops interviewed each one. The cop who spoke to him agreed that he was sober, did not call us, his parents, and let him drive home. The cop first told my son that he might not get a citation, but asked him to wait. When after some time my son asked if he was good to go, the cop said that since no one admitted to the alcohol, everyone was getting a citation. My son asked if he could take a breathalyzer and the cop told him that was not necessary. Before he left, the cop even asked him if he would give another kid, who had been drinking, a ride home! My son said no.
We were told by the court he could plea guilty, not guilty or nolo. I have done a little research and understand this is a Class C misdemeanor. I also understand that basically the way Texas law works is that by simply being in the room where he could have imbibed, my son could be convicted of MIP.
He is a junior in HS and plans on applying to a competitive college next year and also is strongly considering medicine as a career. He is an A student, Varsity football player and never was in trouble before. My gut tells me to get a lawyer and plead not guilty. My husband thinks that pleading nolo would be less money and hassle. My concern is will he have a record that will show up in college and financial aid applications, and later on if he applies to medical school. I also know that records for people working in health fields and government can reach back to look at everything. I know that if he doesn't get in any more trouble, he could petition to have his juvenile record sealed in two years.
If anyone has experience and advice to offer in this area, I would be grateful. We have to decide what to do in the next couple days.
We were told by the court he could plea guilty, not guilty or nolo. I have done a little research and understand this is a Class C misdemeanor. I also understand that basically the way Texas law works is that by simply being in the room where he could have imbibed, my son could be convicted of MIP.
He is a junior in HS and plans on applying to a competitive college next year and also is strongly considering medicine as a career. He is an A student, Varsity football player and never was in trouble before. My gut tells me to get a lawyer and plead not guilty. My husband thinks that pleading nolo would be less money and hassle. My concern is will he have a record that will show up in college and financial aid applications, and later on if he applies to medical school. I also know that records for people working in health fields and government can reach back to look at everything. I know that if he doesn't get in any more trouble, he could petition to have his juvenile record sealed in two years.
If anyone has experience and advice to offer in this area, I would be grateful. We have to decide what to do in the next couple days.