Drivers Under 21 Face 5-Month Suspension For Alcohol Violations

WATERBURY — Drivers under 21 years old may be unaware that they face a mandatory five-month suspension of their licenses for illegally purchasing or possessing alcohol, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. State law prohibits those under age 21 from purchasing or possessing alcohol in public places and on private property.

“Simply purchasing or possessing alcohol — unrelated to operating motor vehicle — carries stiff penalties and these younger drivers should be very much aware of the consequences of their actions,” said DMV Commissioner Robert M. Ward.

“A summer without a driver’s license could be a very long summer,” the commissioner added.

Until last year, violators were required to appear in court to answer the charges and hear about penalties. A change to the law in 2006 made the violation a mail-in infraction and often these under-21 drivers do not know the full extent of penalties they face.

State law since 1997 has required a 150-day suspension of the driver’s license for under-21 drivers convicted of purchasing or possessing alcohol. Many under-21 drivers know they must pay a fine, but are unaware of the mandatory 150-day suspension of their driver’s license as decided by the state legislature.

Prior to the change for mailing in a guilty plea, those charged may have been informed of penalties, including the 150-day suspension by a prosecutor or private attorney during the court proceedings.

“Because of the severity of automatic consequences, DMV wants the under-21 drivers to think very carefully about their choices concerning the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages,” Commissioner Ward said.

Stiff alcohol-related penalties do not stop with this law regarding purchasing and possession. Under-21 drivers also face significant fines, license suspensions or both for having alcohol in a motor vehicle regardless of whether the alcohol belongs to them; for misusing the driver’s license to obtain alcohol by misrepresenting his or her age of using a license belonging to any other person; and for arrests and convictions of driving while intoxicated.