New Bill Could Reduce Possession Charge For Minors

The Michigan Legislature is going over a bill now, which would lessen the “minor in possession,” or MIP charge, from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction.

Under current law, students face up to a $100 fine for their first offense, a misdemeanor on their record and possibly jail time depending on the number of offenses. Also non-criminal offense may result in a slim fine.

When an underage student is caught out in public with alcohol, a judge's sentence for first-time offenders could be up to seven days in jail, while others might be left with a misdemeanor and thus no jail time and a small fine. So straightening out the law and giving it one flat offense would stop judges around East Lansing from sentencing minors to different or outrageous sentences.

State Sen. Rick Jones is behind the bill and you could read more about it here (Courtesy of the State News)