New law affects OSU students

By: Rachel Crews

Posted: 1/14/08

"We were just walking along the street, going from one friend's house to another, I grabbed a beer and drank half of it," said Jason Castle, a freshman majoring in business. "My two buddies ran, but we were all caught eventually."

A law that came into effect in January has made it possible for persons issued minor in possession citations to have their license suspended for a minimum of 90 days. Castle, along with his roommate Josh Wilson and a friend Sean Place, were walking on a sidewalk in possession of alcohol, but may be penalized with the suspension of their legal ability to drive.

They both knew that the law had recently be changed.

"I don't think taking your license away will help that much," Place said. "I don't see how they correlate drinking and taking your license away."

Other than the incongruity of the crime and punishment, Place was frustrated at the length of the possible suspension and how it may affect his ability to get home on weekends. Castle also expressed a skepticism of what possible effect the new law may have.

"It's just going to mean kids are going to run more," Castle said. "It's just a pain to lose your license. I think it's ridiculous, I was just walking along the street."

The "pain" of losing one's license, as Castle and Place talked about, was the intent of the law: to deter minors from drinking through the severity of the consequence, according to police.

Rachel Crews, Senior Reporter

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