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What STUDENTS Should Know

UNH Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities
University of New Hampshire Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities online handbook contains information about UNH alcohol policies, including parental notification and fines.
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Fines in Durham
If convicted of Unlawful Possession (Under age possession of alcohol) - $250 fine plus $50 penalty assessment = $300. The state must prove that the possessor was under 21 years old.

An open container conviction will usually be a $125 fine plus $50 penalty assessment = $150. The state must prove that a container was open.

Transportation of alcohol conviction does not carry a mandatory sanction but common practice is a $100 to $200 fine and no loss license loss. However, in some courts the fine is higher and some judges will impose a license suspension.

You can be charged with both unlawful possession and open container violations and end up paying $450 in fines.

In the State of New Hampshire, any person under the age of 21 cannot transport any alcoholic beverage unless they are in the company of a parent or legal guardian. If convicted, the alcohol is confiscated, the vehicle is towed for a mandatory 24 hour hold, and can result in a $1,000 fine and a possible 60 day loss of license.

The above situations are the most frequent alcohol related items we deal with. They are all violations, which are not crimes. All of these violations result in a full custody arrest here in Durham, which means handcuffs, transportation to the station, photographs, and bail. The unlawful possession and the transportation of alcohol charges will show on on your motor vehicle license record. None of these will result in any criminal record.
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Fines on the UNH Campus
For information on the fines for alcohol use on the UNH campus visit www.unh.edu/student-life/judprograms/aodfines.htm.
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Protective Custody
Protective Custody is basically defined as the physical custody of a person to prevent further or future harm to themselves or others. Nine times out of ten, a person in protective custody in the Town of Durham is intoxicated, but he/she does not have to be in order to fit the definition. It could be for a medical or psychological reason as well. As far as the Durham Police Department goes, if a person is placed in protective custody they are generally taken to the Strafford County jail for the night...not a pleasant experience. If he/she ends up going to jail, he/she will be handcuffed, searched, and will sleep in a hot, smelly jail cell with all the other drunks from the night. Protective custody does not result in any charge whatsoever. It is simply a civil status.
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Summons/Complaint
A Summons/Complaint is easily defined as a "call to court" to answer to a charge. A Complaint is the form the person will receive for anything he/she has been arrested for. On the night of his/her arrest, he/she will not receive the complaint, he/she will receive a pink copy at a later date. A Summons is the form he/she receives for any motor vehicle violation: speeding, stop sign, etc... He/she will always receive the pink copy.
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Hosting a Party Off-Campus
Hosting a party off-campus where an underage person attends and leaves can lead to legal violations. There are many factors that influence the determination if this is a violation or not. Simply put, you can be held liable if you host a party, provide all of the alcohol to the guests, and one of your guests, who is a minor (under 21 years of age), leaves the party and gets in an accident.
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New NH Keg Registration Policy
As of January, 2001, every keg bought in the State of New Hampshire must be registered. This is done with a form provided at the store where you buy it. The form asks for basic information. Name, date of birth, address, etc. It also lists a responsibility statement and requires a signature at the bottom. One copy of the form has a sticky back and is applied to the keg. The second copy remains with the store and is placed on file. If you remove the sticky copy from the keg later, you are guilty of a violation and will face a fine. If you use a fake I.D. to buy the keg, you are guilty of what's called Unsworn Falsification which is a misdemeanor.
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Questions?
If you have any questions contact the UNH Police at 862-1427 or the Durham Police at 868-2324. It is better to know the law before something happens rather than when it is too late.
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UNH Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities

Fines in Durham

Fines on the UNH Campus

Protective Custody

Summons/Complaint

Hosting a Party Off-Campus

New NH Keg Registration Policy

Questions


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