A Washington State Minor in Possession (MIP) charge is a serious criminal misdemeanor charge.

Minor in Possession of Alcohol

There are a number of prevalent misperceptions regarding Washington State law and being charged with Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP).  The first is that a Washington MIP is not a criminal charge.  Many people are under the impression that a WA MIP is only a civil infraction.  This is not true.  A Washington State MIP charge  is a Gross Misdemeanor and is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Another huge misperception seems to be that you cannot actually be charged and convicted of MIP unless you are physically in possession of intoxicating liquor or unless it is somehow under your control at the time of arrest. This is false.

Believe it or not, in order to be found guilty of Minor in Possession of Alcohol in Washington State you do not need to actually be in possession of alcohol or drinking at the time that you are contacted by law enforcement.  If evidence of prior consumption is combined with other corroborating evidence, this can be sufficient to prove possession beyond a reasonable doubt.  Our courts have also recently noted that no single factor is determinative of the existence of dominion and control.

Thus, you can be found guilty through the mere presence of alcohol in your body or system if there some other independent corroborative evidence that you have been in possession of alcohol.  This presence can often be proven through your own admissions, through the proximity of alcohol, or through an actual breath test.  Additionally, circumstantial evidence such as empty beer cans and statements by others can also be used to build a case against you.

If, however, there is no other evidence of possession beyond an odor of alcohol, you should have a good argument to have the charges dismissed.  If this is true in your case, you should contact an experienced Seattle MIP attorney to learn more about your legal rights.  If your case falls into this category, we're here to help. 

As noted above, many people erroneously believe that they cannot be charged and convicted of MIP unless they are actually in possession of alcohol at the time that they are stopped or contacted by law enforcement.  As detailed above, however, this is simply not the case.

Minor in Possession of Alcohol or Intoxicating Liquor is a Gross Misdemeanor and is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Minor in Possession of Drugs

Many people also believe that their driver's license will only be suspended if they are convicted of being a minor in possession of alcohol.  This is false.  You can also have your license suspended if you are a minor and in possession of marijuana or other drugs.  Washington's laws specifically require that your driving privileges be revoked if you are between the ages of 13 and 20, and you are either convicted of or sign a diversion agreement pursuant to a drug charge. 

If you been arrested for Minor in Possession (MIP) in Washington State, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe are here to help.

If you are looking for a Washington State MIP attorney with the resources and experience to assist you with your MIP charge, you have come to the right place.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe are experienced criminal lawyers.  We are here to provide answers to your Washington State MIP questions.

WA State MIP Attorney Jason S. Newcombe serves clients throughout the greater Puget Sound region, including the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, North Bend, Shoreline, Auburn, Tukwila, Renton, Kent, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Bothell, Everett, and the counties of King County, Snohomish County, and Pierce County.

WASHINGTON MIP LAWYER