It is not uncommon for college students to head out to a party and enjoy a bit of alcohol. These parties can escalate, and what was only a quick stop and a few drinks can lead to a night that gets a little out of control and the college student can find themselves stumbling home only to have an officer give them a ticket for public intoxication.
Is it serious?
The answer, like many things in the legal world, is partly yes and partly no. The following will dive into what anyone facing these charges should be concerned about and provide tips to move forward.
What is public intoxication?
Iowa state law defines public intoxication as being in a state where one’s mental ability is affected, judgement is impaired, emotions are high or the individual has lost control of their bodily actions while in a general public area. Public areas can include anything from a hallway in an apartment building to the sidewalk on a public street.
What should I be worried about after a public intoxication ticket?
There are two separate issues to prepare to address.
- Criminal matter. A conviction for public intoxication generally results in hundreds of dollars in fines and up to 30 days in jail. These can increase if the individual is underage at the time of the offense.
- School disciplinary action. Most school’s code of conduct include a section that prohibits criminal conduct. As such, a violation can result in consequences that could include expulsion.
It is important to prepare for both issues to mitigate the negative impact of public intoxication on one’s future.
Will this impact my future?
There are ways to reduce the risk of a public intoxication incident causing problems with future employment opportunities. For example, it is possible to petition the court to expunge the conviction two years after conviction. The law states that if there are no other criminal convictions, the court will expunge the record.
This is just one of many tools that can help to reduce the impact of the charges on one’s future. Legal counsel with experience in this area of law can review the situation and provide guidance tailored to the specifics of the case.