What was reported
In November 2011, the Sun Sentinel reported that Coral Springs was considering fining parents for allowing underage drinking at home. The city wanted to join other municipalities using civil ordinances to make parents accountable for kids’ drinking. A state criminal law was already on the books, but city officials said enforcement was a problem.
Criminal defense attorney Adam Harmelin, who successfully represented one of the sets of parents, said his clients “had no idea” alcohol was being served. Even though prosecutors originally asked for jail time, the judge ordered the couple to pay court costs, one step above dismissing the case.
The article also reported that, under the state law at the time, first-time offenders faced up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, and that the law had been toughened that year for second-time offenders.
Read the full article by Lisa J. Huriash at the Sun Sentinel.
If you are facing a charge after a party at your home
Florida law makes it a crime for an adult to allow underage drinking at a home they control, in some situations. Whether the law applies depends on what the homeowner knew and did. Call Adam at (954) 294-9372 to talk about the facts. More about criminal defense and Adam’s practice in Coral Springs.