If you were ever given the chance to drink underage, or even do illegal drugs, would you take the chance? Would you partake in underage drinking at a party and do illegal drugs despite the consequences that would follow? As many of us know, alcohol and drug usage is prevalent among teens, even among students in Mason City High School. When interviewing Officer Jason Trask, who has worked for the Mason City Police Department for thirteen years, it is safe to say that one must be willing to sacrifice one’s freedom if they decide to partake in such activities.
If someone is under the age of 21 for drinking, you are considered a juvenile under law for alcohol consumption. For anyone under the age of 21, your blood alcohol content cannot surpass the limit of 0.02. However, if someone are the age of 21, then the BAC of 0.08 would be acceptable. If it occurs that you have been drinking and driving and exceed the limit of your age group, then it is recognized as a violation of driving and will be considered a O.W.I (Operating while Intoxicated).
When dealing with parties with individuals have been drinking, law enforcement can charge the suspects with minor consumption, which is a misdemeanor charge. Along with this, individuals will be asked to use a PBT, which is a small handheld device that measures the concentration of alcohol in your body from your breath. Any individual who is suspected of being involved must take the test, regardless if they have been drinking or not. If one decides to refuse the test, then they will still be charged with minor consumption. The resident who lives at the location of the party can still charged with social host and a hefty fine, even if one has not participated in such activities. Officers also have the right to search a house for usage of illegal drugs and alcohol under probable cause if the situation is right for it without a search warrant. Also note that if a person happens to be the designated driver for someone at a party, you are not committing a crime by taking a friend safe home, but if pulled over, the intoxicated passenger can be charged with minor consumption.
If the situation arises that you get caught, the charge will be sent over to the juvenile court services, where they will call your parents to discuss the situation and set up a meeting time. Here, you have an option during the meeting, which is to either plead guilty for your actions, or not guilty. If you plead guilty, you will refore have to attend a three to four hour class, and put on probation, which is sort of a observation to make sure the individual is on good behavior and doesn’t do any other mischievous acts. All of this would not go on your record, considering that it didn’t get the court involved. If you happen to plead not guilty during the meeting time, then it will indeed go to court, where you will have to present your case in front of a judge with or without counsel, and if you win, all the charges will be dropped. However, if you lose the case, you will then go on formal probation, while following up on the juvenile court consequences. House arrest will also be put into play, which is where the individual can only stay at their house and school, while topping it off with an ankle bracelet, and putting the crime committed on one’s record.
Now when dealing with drugs, it is quite similar with the consequences of alcohol, but a bit different.The severity of the charge all depends on the amount of the drug/s on hand. If caught with illegal drugs, it will too, go to the juvenile court services, and a meeting will be set up. If pleaded guilty, the individual will go to a evaluation class, which is a drug class. Along with it drug tests will be put into play, and probation as well. If the individual pleads not guilty and loses, then all of the rest will follow, along with it being put on their record and sent to a detention center. It is also important to note that if a dirty drug test is submitted, the person will be sent to a detention center, along with a ankle monitor since they did not stay clean from previous behavior.
When asked the question if the alcohol and drug usage have changed over the years, Officer Trask simply stated that it, “ has been the same that it has always been”, aside from the fact that party going teens have made a prevalent habit of running away from the police when confronted at a party. When doing so, the people if caught, can also be charged with interference, which is a additional charge if they had been drinking as well. Trask had also mentioned that the probable cause of alcohol and drug usage among Mason City High School students would be because of the,“ Thrill and the feeling of being rebellious”. Officer Trask had also given a word of the wise, which is if you were in the situation at a party where there’s drinking, “ Turn around and leave, but if you have no other choice, go in a completely other room away from the activities”. Trask had also pointed out that if you do go to a party, you don’t have to take part in with the drinking and doing drugs
Is the short moment of excitement and thrill really worth the different types of consequences that come if an individual commits the crime of drinking underage and using drugs? How can we make sure as a student body that when given the option to participate, we choose the smartest path that will reflect who we truly are and the best interests of our futures? The first step, is to make sure that we educate ourselves on the laws and consequences of such acts, and to make sure that our decisions in life are in the best interest of not only our futures, but of the others around us as well.