I am going to tell you a slightly disturbing story from my relatively younger days. When I was 20, I drank beer on occasion. I know this is a shocking story as it is highly unusual for college students to actually consume alcohol, so you might want to prepare yourself for what I am about to tell you.

After having someone purchase a case of the cheapest beer I could find at the local grocery store, I carried the case of beer to my neighbor’s house for a few drinkeronis. Before I got to their apartment building, which was less than 20 feet away, two cops who looked like they were just about to hit puberty jumped out of the bushes and gave me an MIP for possession of alcohol.

I swear to God, it’s true- the cops actually jumped out of the bushes. I am not actually sure who tipped them off to my whereabouts or told them about my insidious activities (drinking bad beer as a minor) or if they realized how ridiculous they looked capturing me. I kind of doubt it, but it definitely would have gone viral on You-Tube if it that was an option then.  

I was fined $190.00 for the infraction, which was wiped off of my record because of my willingness to perform community service at the local tennis court. Unfortunately, my community service did not consist of giving tennis lessons to hot young wanna-be tennis stars; instead, I had the less-than-fun task of sweeping/raking wet leaves while listening to tunes on my Walkman.

The cops kept the beer, supposedly for “evidence”, much in the same manner that cops are known for confiscating drugs for personal use and pleasure.

The next week, my neighbor was “caught” in the act of drinking at a football game. HIs fine was only $100 and he didn’t have to do any community service, but I am trying not to be bitter about the experience.

Of course, in some states now, the fines and penalties for MIPs are much higher; fines can reach up to $250 and in some states, it is possible to lose your license for driving when underage, which makes sense if someone is caught drinking and driving, but not if someone is caught drinking next to a university campus, where everything is in walking distance.  

Have you ever gotten an MIP and if so, what’s your story?

Pic thru Creative Commons Flickr User 13 of Clubs.