Utah Accident Results in Minor Consumption Charges, Possibly More

A vehicular accident on Monday, June 23, in St. George, Utah, resulted in minor consumption charges for two juveniles. In addition, everyone in the vehicle received injuries.

Joy Ride Ends Unhappily

According to St. George police, at approximately 10 p.m. Monday evening, a late model Ford Explorer driven by a 15-year-old female with four other passengers ages 15 to 18 slid sideways at the intersection of 670 N. Valley View Drive before rolling and hitting a chain link fence.

One of the passengers was ejected from the Explorer. The driver was trapped and had to be extricated from the vehicle by emergency personnel. She was airlifted to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas with severe head trauma. The four other passengers were all transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

While not a “joy ride” in the sense of being in a stolen vehicle, every other part of the definition matches. Law enforcement has stated that they believe both speed and alcohol were involved in the accident. As a result, two of the juveniles were cited with minor consumption. It hasn’t been released whether one of these was the driver. More charges are pending as the investigation of the accident continues.

Minor Consumption Penalties

In Utah, the alcohol laws in regards to minors are known as “NOT-A-DROP” rules and are taken very seriously. A minor may not have any detectable amount of alcohol as measured by blood, breath or urine.

A conviction for minor consumption or possession is a misdemeanor and the violator’s driver’s license may be suspended for one to two years depending on whether it is their first conviction. If the violator is not yet eligible to receive their license or learner’s permit, the suspension begins as soon as they are eligible.

In some instances, a judge may reduce the license suspension time for first time offenders providing they complete a court-approved educational program. For second and subsequent offenses, the aforementioned program may be mandated in addition to the license suspension.

If your child has been cited for minor consumption, talk to an experienced juvenile defense attorney. Penalties will often be less severe if you have an attorney working on your child’s behalf.