Washington State Underage Drinking
and Minor-in-Possession Defense
Washington State's minor-in-possession (MIP) and minor-in-consumption (MIC) statutes show little tolerance for underage drinking. By law, these offenses are classified as gross misdemeanors and they are punishable by fines of up to $5000 dollars, one year in jail and a minimum one-year drivers' license revocation.
At Ronnie Rae & Associates, we handle minor-in-possession charges, DUI cases, marijuana offenses and a wide range of other crimes that involve underage drinking or drug use. Our practice is statewide and our attorneys have had both extensive experience, and significant success in helping previous clients to avoid or minimize the consequences of conviction.
If you are under 21, you can be convicted of an underage drinking offense without having been in physical possession of any alcohol at the time of your arrest. In other words, if there was alcohol in your system or nearby — the time to talk to an experienced lawyer is now. Contact us for a free consultation.
Is There Any Way to Keep This Off My Record?
The good news is that yes, it is often possible to keep a criminal charge of underage drinking or drug use off of your permanent record — especially if you are a first-time offender. This is because many counties in Washington State make alcohol- and drug-related diversion programs available to people faced with what you're facing now.
The bad news is that not all counties have these programs or options available and, even in the ones that do, establishing your eligibility for them is a process fraught with pitfalls.
Our lawyers can explain how each of the various programs work and provide the advice and representation you need to secure placement. If this isn't an appropriate option in your case, you can count on us to be aggressive advocates for you at every stage of the adjudication process.
Free Consultations
Three Numbers to Call …
- In the Spokane Area: 509-323-9000
- In Wenatchee and the Moses Lake Area: 509-630-8800
- In the Tri-Cities Area: 509-378-0154
Major Credit Cards Accepted
