[Adopted 5-11-10 by Ord. No. 2010-18; amended 4-12-11 by Ord. No. 2011-8]
A.
Prohibited conduct. Any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic
beverages who knowingly possesses or consumes any alcoholic beverage
in or on any school property, public conveyance, public place or public
assembly or on private property shall be in violation of this Article.
Upon conviction, such underage person shall be subject to a fine of
$250 for a first offense and $350 for any subsequent offense; perform
community service for a period not to exceed 180 days; at the discretion
of the court, have a New Jersey driving privilege suspended or postponed
for up to six months; and, if considered necessary by the court, be
referred to an alcohol treatment program at the defendant's expense.
In the case of a person who at the time of the imposition of
sentence is less than 17 years of age, the period of any suspension
of driving privileges authorized herein, including a suspension of
the privilege of operating a motorized bicycle, shall commence on
the day the sentence is imposed and shall run for a period as fixed
by the court of not more than six months after the day the person
reaches the age of 17.
Any revocation, suspension or postponement period imposed under
this subsection shall commence as of the date of termination of any
existing renovation, suspension, or postponement.
[Amended 4-12-11 by Ord. No. 2011-8]
B.
Exceptions. This Article shall not apply to persons under the legal
age to purchase alcoholic beverages who possess or consume alcoholic
beverages on private property in the presence of and with the permission
of the parent or legal guardian of said person, provided that said
guardian is of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages, or if alcoholic
beverage is being consumed in any religious observance, ceremony,
or rite. The Article shall not apply to possession of an alcoholic
beverage by an underage person employed by an alcoholic beverage licensee
in the course of performing employment duties.
