Tell your children: promptly call for help if a minor is sick from alcohol consumption.

Picture by Mills Baker

N.J.S.A. 2C:33-15 prohibits the consumption or possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person under the age of 21. The offense is a disorderly persons’ offense and carries a minimum fine of $500. Conviction also requires a six-month suspension of driving privileges when the offense occurs in a motor vehicle.

A new law amends N.J.S.A. 2C:33-15, providing statutory immunity to underage individuals when:

(1) the underage person calls 9-1-1 and reports that another underage person is in need of medical assistance due to alcohol consumption;
(2) the underage person who called 9-1-1 and, if applicable, one or two other persons acting in concert with the underage person who called 9-1-1 provided each of their names to the 9-1-1 operator;
(3) the underage person was the first person to make the 9-1-1 report; and
(4) the underage person and, if applicable, one or two other persons acting in concert with the underage person who made the 9-1-1 call remained on the scene with the person under the legal age in need of medical assistance until assistance arrived and cooperated with medical assistance and law enforcement personnel on the scene.

The underage person who received medical assistance shall also be immune from prosecution under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-15.

This amendment is intended to encourage the intervention of emergency rescue personnel in instances where intoxication has resulted in illness.

NOTE: This Blog/Blawg, NJ Family Issues, is managed by Paul G. Kostro, Esq., an attorney/lawyer/mediator in Linden, Union County, New Jersey.

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