Expert: Mark C. Robins - 7/10/2008

Question
QUESTION: I was in Ontario a couple of nights ago when i was pulled over around 1:30 AM after leaving a local night club. When the police officer asked if i had anything to drink that night i told him i had consumed a couple of beers earlier in the evening. I handed him my real ID card (New York State) and he asked how i got into the night club being only 18 years of age. I told him they didn't ID us at the door and he continued to search me and find a fake ID card. I left with 2 separate 125$ tickets; 1 for having false ID and 1 for consuming alcohol underage (never was i breathalyzed or given any form of sobriety test). My question is, could i argue that i had consumed alcohol in the safety of my home underage parental supervision hours earlier and that i was 100% sober at the time of the ticket. AND what kind of situation would i be in as a resident of New York if i were to just not pay the tickets. Would i be arrested the next time i tried to cross the border etc. etc.

Any information you could provide would be very helpful thank you.

ANSWER: New York State as well as most US states has reciprocal agreements with Canada so the tickets would be enforced in your state.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Could you answer the questions i asked... (My question is, could i argue that i had consumed alcohol in the safety of my home underage parental supervision hours earlier and that i was 100% sober at the time of the ticket. AND what kind of situation would i be in as a resident of New York if i were to just not pay the tickets. Would i be arrested the next time i tried to cross the border etc. etc.)

Answer
Sir Drinking and Driving is taken very seriously in Canada as in the USA, to argue that you had consent from your parents would not change the fact that there are Drinking laws in Ontario and they are enforced on Minors.
Combined with the fact that you were driving it is not an argument that I would use.

Now as to your comments on my previous answer, It was not "Robotic" it was Factual.
If you decide to not appear in court on the charges they will effect you in New York State.