If you are 18 can the police contact your parents without your permission for a drinking charge in pa?

Chazman1347

Yes, especially if their name is on the insurance information, they have a duty to report that you were driving a vehicle that is insured by them intoxicated.

Glenn Z

police can contact anyone they want in the investigation of a crime.

Kim K

Underage drinking is a Big offense here in PA.. Even if you are technically an adult, they can still call your parents until you reach the age where it is legal to drink.

Pooky

who name is on your auto insurance? If its your mom and dad they have every right to know.

Geoff C

Yes they can call your parents. you were underaged drinking in a car with someone who was also drinking.

They can call your parents to get you a ride home since you could not drive becuase you were drinking. They violated no regulations. Police can call anyone they choose in the course of an investigation.

Look at it this way. If you break the law and are arrested your name can be published in the newspaper under the "Arrested" section of the paper. your arrest is public information and you have no privacy to keep it out of the public's knowledge so calling your parents would be considered the same.

They also didnt violate any regulations by taking the cell phone from your friend

ADDITION: Look at the link below it shows you that when you are arrested you have no expectation of privacy in concern with your information being releases to anyone in the public.

Doesnt matter where she was standing or who was calling as an officer I would not let you answer your phone either and I would most likely answer the phone you never know what kind of information you can get by answering the phone of a person under arrest.

Elaine M

Underage was the 'key' here. 21 years old they would not have, but since you were 18, local ordinances said to call.

chuckbchillin

With the expansion of the nanny-state, people are treated as children well after their 18th birthday. Is it acceptable or ethical or in this case legal? I can't answer the ethical questions, but it sure doesn't seem like the cops should be allowed to automatically contact your parents without your consent.

Oops, didn't consider insurance and registration of the car.

Spencer C

hmmmm... i think that it depends on the case. They can contact your parents in any case, it's not illegal, and your not fully of age.

Kevin P

Yes, if you live with them.

FRAGINAL-NOYPI

The parents are still answerable to the offenses committed by their children as guardians. Thus, the policemen can still contact them.

bahamutzero150

yes

jess g

Just like you they can call whom so ever they want. Understand the concern but they have the right to tell.

Crazy Pirate

the police can try to talk to anyone they want when collecting evidence... i don't know enough of the details to say any more

NJGit

This may seem like a dumb thing to ask but is the car registered to her folks? What about the insurance?

Even though at 18 you are technically an adult if you are in school you are not totally independent. Also if you are 18 you may not be a minor but are still under 21 and drinking. They could have put you in jail and towed the car.

There is a law in NJ that if you are pulled over for a DUI they cannot give you your car back until a certain amount of time has passed. If they have the same thing in PA then they may have saved your folks from paying a hefty towing fee and impoundment fees by having them get you and the car.

Lance R

Did you think they were going to let you go ? It would be either you have Mom and Dad come get you or you go to the County Jail. Were charges pressed ? If not then they really did you a big favor in only calling your parents. Please don't try to turn anything around and try to say the police did something wrong by calling the next of kin. No one is going to let someone who is in some sort of custody use their cell phone, all calls must go through the dispatch.

christopher

yes they can call your parents because nearly the same thing happened to me

Orlando57

was it her car was the car in her name see they could be thinking about liabilities like do you live at home how do you get there if your drunk do you need bail and the parents if my daughter has a flat at college i want to know its my business to know if shes in trouble so i can help a person alone is the definition of helpless you have less help also maybe make sure your friend gets a lawyer if possible they can get the charges reduced or thrown out always lawyer up with out it its always worse

Hogie

Even though the police shouldn't be able to contact your parents wen you're 18, in most states states the legal drinking age is over 18 so you were violating the drinking law. I'm not judging, just stating the way the law stands in most states. I hope you both come out of this having learned a valuable lesson you'll take to heart. GOOD LUCK

Bill

Yes they can contact someone. Remember, criminal charges are public record...you have no privacy right in that.

imsety

If you're still living with your parents under 21 of age they can contact your parents at there desire.

Dasha

well it's probably legal! but it's not done in CA where i live

Sabababa

um probably unless you don't live with your parents anymore... or something like that

Fred S

i think so you are still a minor

Hyro

they are not supposed to contact your partent. you are an adult at 18. the police could have taken you to jail. maybe they just called your parents to give you a break.

Jack

You are lucky you aren't in jail right now.

therxexpert

im only 16 so im unsure but id assume since you are legal it would be illegal for them to do so

R R

You should tell which country/state this alleged crime was committed in.

star

i am kidding a bout that i all redy have a boyfriend sombotty dard me to do that

John D

I would say no,because 'legally' your an adult. Did you have an ID to show them?

zeek112x

I doubt it, I think you could have a good lawsuit on your hands if thats what your going for. I would call a lawyer.

MohawkPrincess

It doesn't matter where you are, the police can't do that.

You're over 18, and you cannot be charged. If you take it to court that they did that, or that they forceably removed your friends cell phone, it'll be thrown out and the officer most likely put on probation.

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