Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:48-1.2
and subject to any exceptions set forth therein, it shall be unlawful
for any person who is under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages
to knowingly possess same without legal authority or knowingly consume
any alcoholic beverage on private property.
B.
Additionally, the court may, upon a finding of guilt,
in addition to the fine authorized for this offense, suspend or postpone
for six months the driving privileges of the defendant.
(1)
Upon conviction of any person and the suspension or
postponement of that person's driver's license, the court shall forward
a report to the Division of Motor Vehicles stating the first and last
day of the suspension or postponement period imposed by the court
pursuant to this section.
(2)
If a person at the time of the imposition of the sentence
is less than 17 years of age, the period of license postponement,
including a suspension or postponement of the privilege of operating
a motorized bicycle, shall commence on the day the sentence is imposed
and shall run for a period of six months after the person reaches
the age of 17 years.
(3)
If the defendant at the time of the imposition of
the sentence has a valid driver's license issued by this state, the
court shall immediately collect the license and forward it to the
Division of Motor Vehicles along with the report. If for any reason
the license cannot be collected, the court shall include in the report
the complete name, address, date of birth, eye color and sex of the
person as well as the first and last date of the license suspension
period imposed by the court.
(4)
The court shall inform the person orally and in writing
that if the person is convicted of operating a motor vehicle during
the period of suspension or postponement, the person shall be subject
to the penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40. The individual shall
be required to acknowledge in writing the receipt of the written notice.
Failure to receive a written notice or failure to acknowledge in writing
the receipt of a written notice shall not be a defense to a subsequent
charge of a violation of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.
(5)
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:48-1.2b, if the person
convicted under this article is not a New Jersey resident, the court
shall suspend or postpone, as appropriate, the nonresident driving
privilege of the person based on the age of the person and submit
to the Division of Motor Vehicles the required report. The court shall
not collect the license of a nonresident person convicted under this
section. Upon receipt of a report by the court, the Division of Motor
Vehicles shall notify the appropriate officials in the licensing jurisdiction
of the suspension or postponement.
