Legal Question in Criminal Law in Minnesota

I was charged with possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle. It is my first criminal offense ever. How serious is this? Should I get a lawyer and go to court or just pay the fines? I am 19yrs old, how will this affect my record?


Asked on 1/28/13, 7:16 am

3 Answers from Attorneys

Tricia Dwyer Tricia Dwyer Esq & Assoc PLLC

Hello. Possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle is governed by Minnesota Statute 512.027 Subdivision 3. This law is known as Minnesota�s �open bottle � marijuana� law. The charge is a common one. In my view, immediately you ought to confer privately with an attorney in order to assert and to protect your rights. Along with (negative) criminal consequences, there may be numerous negative �collateral consequences�, such as harm to your ability to obtain housing, or harm to your ability to obtain work in certain fields, that will affect you for years and years in the future. It is not uncommon for a person to obtain a new job only then to be fired by the employer who learned of a criminal history. I recommend that you phone several attorneys in selecting an attorney to help you, because you should feel a sense of great safety and trust with the attorney you choose to help you at this time. Also, I recommend that you seek private attorney counsel immediately, because, in my experience, the earlier in the process that the lawyer can help you, the better the outcome is likely to be. Take care.

Tricia Dwyer Esq

Tricia Dwyer Esq & Associates PLLC

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Answered on 1/28/13, 7:59 am
Maury Beaulier612.240.8005 Minnesota Lawyers

It is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine. Even more critically, a conviction may affect your future in significant ways. It may prevent you from acquiring certain jobs, particularly those related to the medical field. It may prevent you from being able to rent an apartment or enter certain universities. Accordingly, it is extremely important to protect your record.

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Answered on 1/28/13, 8:32 am
Thomas C. Gallagher Gallagher Criminal Defense

If convicted, you'll have both a criminal record and a drivers license record of the conviction, as well as a license revocation. In my view it is critical to have help from a criminal lawyer, in an effort to prevent both. I do many of these, with great success.

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Answered on 1/28/13, 7:19 pm


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