First-time underage drinking offense, ages 16-20: Is a civil offense in Vermont, which will result in:

• $175.00 TASP fee;
• Substance Abuse Screening: we provide this in-house but you may choose to go to an outside Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LADC)
• Attendance in our evidence-based Alcohol Safety class
• Further assessment and counseling may be mandated before the Alcohol Safety Program is considered completed.

Attendance for intake and group is mandatory. Attendance means arriving on time, class participation and staying until the session ends. A participant who does not register, participate in class or attend all sessions will be considered to have withdrawn from the program.

The participant is expected to arrange his/her schedule if they wish to participate in the Alcohol Safety Program.

Second underage drinking offense in Windsor County: MAY be sent to us OR may be sent directly to court at the discretion of the issuing officer.  If sent to us, it requires:

• A fee of $175.00
• Assessment by a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (LADC);

Please contact diversion staff to discuss 2nd ticket fees

THIRD underage drinking offenses automatically go to court and are not eligible for Diversion

For any ticket: You can choose to contest your ticket instead of participating in the Alcohol Safety Program, (if you lose, see below):

• You will have to pay a $300.00 court fine;
• Your license will be suspended for 90 days;
• Your car insurance may increase, as a result;
• You will have a civil conviction on your record.

In Addition: Adults risk jail time and a fine if they supply alcohol to minors, whether or not the minor drives. 

"Social Hosting" a party where alcohol is available to underage drinkers is a criminal offense; parents can be arrested and may risk loss of home owners insurance, etc. If an underage drinker kills or injures another person, the person who supplied the alcohol can be charged with a felony for the death, or a gross misdemeanor for an injury, and can be also be charged in civil lawsuits by individuals or their town, to recoup the cost of the arrest and its consequences.

 NEW HAMPSHIRE: 

New Hampshire Lower Grafton County referral of underage drinking charges to Valley Court Diversion is at the discretion of the Prosecuting Officer for each police department.;

• The Prosecuting Officer for the town in which you were arrested will contact you, after making the determination that as a first time participant you can be sent to our program to avoid court and a violation.
• He will tell you that you have a certain number of days to contact VCDP, and he will schedule you for a NH court date that will stay in force until he hears from us that you have registered for our program, at which time he will remove you from the court docket. If you fail to complete the ASP program your court date will be reinstated.
• New Hampshire Diversion fees are set by the court to be less than court fees but still aversive.

When you contact us:

• We will schedule you for your intake and a class/board hearing.
• You will be required to pay your fee, ($350.), to complete the required alcohol screening, with one of our licensed counselors,
• And you will be scheduled for the three hour alcohol education class/a Board Hearing.
• After you have successfully completed the process above, and any recommended additional counseling, you will receive a certificate of completion and your charge will be voided by the court.

Because we keep our classes small to be interactive, you need to contact us as soon as possible to get into one in a timely manner. If you do not schedule with us within 30 days of being contacted by the Prosecuting Officer, you will determined to have FAILED and your court date will be reinstated.

Once you have read this information carefully please call AJ at 802-295-5078 ex 14 to get started.