Charlotte Drive After Consuming Under the Age of 21 Charge Dismissed

A Browning & Long client, a 20-year-old female, was stopped for speeding 55 in a 35 on Biederbeck Drive in Charlotte, NC. When the officer approached the car, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana and therefore asked the driver, our client, to step outside of the car. Once outside the car, our client admitted to smoking marijuana within the last 20 minutes. Accordingly, our client was charged with driving after consuming an impairing substance being under the age of 21 in violation North Carolina General Statute (N.C.G.S.) 20-138(a). Specifically, N.C.G.S. 20-138(a) makes it a crime for anyone under 21 years old to drive while any alcohol or drugs remain in their system.

Mr. Long was able to speak with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office and get this case dismissed. Getting a case like this dismissed is difficult because, unlike a DWI where the state must prove impairment, this charge is a zero-tolerance offense, meaning that all the state has to do is prove that a person has any amount of alcohol or drugs in their body. This dismissal means that our client will not lose their driver’s license, be placed on probation and will not pay any court costs. If you are under the age of 21 and are charged with driving after drinking or taking drugs give our office a call.