Underage people having an illicit drink in Fort Dodge could someday find that the can of beer in their hand may not be the only thing to put them on the wrong side of the law banning possession of alcohol by minors.
The beer, whisky or other alcoholic beverage they just drank would put them in violation of a new law that won preliminary City Council approval Monday.
The measure changes the definition of possession of alcohol by a minor to include alcohol within the body, according to City Manager David Fierke.
A preliminary breath test typically used by police officers to determine if a driver is drunk would be the key tool in enforcing the new law. Fierke said any underaged person who registered a .02 on that test would be deemed to be in possession of alcohol.
A reading of .08 is the legal threshold at which a person is presumed to be driving drunk.
City Attorney Maurice Breen said people who are convicted of possession of alcohol by a minor face a fine of up to $500.
Assistant Police Chief Kevin Doty previously told the council that an underage person who obviously appears to have been drinking but isn't holding a container of alcohol cannot be charged with a crime under current laws.
Council members voted unanimously in favor of the proposal. It must be approved twice more to become law.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net