Public Intoxication can happen in many different ways and at any time. For instance, a Tulsa man is facing charges of public intoxication after showing up at his girlfriend’s apartment on Christmas Day. The man had been heavily drinking. He began fighting the woman’s brother and then choked the woman. Police arrested the man for many charges, public intoxication being one of them. This article will explain more about the crime and what it means for you.
Elements of Public Intoxication
Authorities must prove certain elements in order to charge a person with public intoxication. Under Title 37 §8, you can find these elements. They are:
- You must be in public.
- you must be intoxicated, whether it be alcohol or drugs or both; and
- The peace of another person must be disturbed.
It is important to point out that being in public encompasses a variety of situations. For instance, being in public may be on a private street, riding as a passenger in another person’s vehicle, or standing in your own yard in a neighborhood.
Legal Consequences of Public Intoxication
Many cities will jail and hold a person for up to 24 hours for public intox and then release them with no or minimal charges. This is sometimes called a “drunk tank”. However, Tulsa does not participate in such practices. Instead, Tulsa officers will book offenders into the jail. This creates a record of arrest and means you will have to face court.
Public Intoxication crimes are misdemeanors. This means that you can face fines and potential jail time. Fines can range from $10 to $100, while jail time may be from 5 to 30 days. The amount of fine and the length of imprisonment will depend on the severity of the offense. For example, if you were particularly disruptive or this was a repeat offense, you would serve longer and pay higher fines.
Check Out Our Criminal Defense Blog For more Interesting Legal Topics.
Tulsa County Criminal Defense Attorneys
Our criminal defense lawyers understand that public intoxication is a crime that can happen to almost anyone. Having a few too many drinks in public can be a major problem for you in the future if it causes you to face charges. Call the Tulsa County Lawyers Group us for a free consultation at 918-379-4864. Or you can contact us online by following this link.
