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Don't you think that as American citizens, people should only be punished for crimes that they ACTUALLY commit? Also, don't you think that the Bill of Rights should be followed - even when dealing with underage drinking?

This is getting monotonous.

Okay, you're the cop. There are thirty kids at this party. How do you decide who is in possession? Are you psychic? Of course not! When I was growing up there were guys who bought beer that never drank a sip. They were still in "possession". Do you not write them a ticket merely because they don't drink it? How does a cop make this judgment on the spot. Do you suppose the kids who did not have the alcohol in their system were the only ones involved with "possession"?

Surely you can understand the cops point of view. You just write everyone who had access. How else do you do it?

This is getting monotonous.

You're right...you just keep posting the same thing. Your basic point is that if the cops can't easily decided who is actually in possession of a controlled substance then everyone in the general area should be charged. We all got that point the first time you posted it.

The point still stands however that not every person in a grouping of people is responsible for what others do. Sure, sometimes people can get railroaded when the cops are lazy and the judge just rubber stamps it, but that doesn't make it right.

In many situations, especially with teen parties at a private residence, many people at the party may be totally unaware of what another is drinking. If you've ever been to a college football game as a student this should be crystal clear. I saw many students sitting near me drinking alcohol that they snuck in...that doesn't make everyone in the student section guilty of possession.

The same thing happens at teen parties...a few people bring in their alcohol and others are unaware or or uninvolved with what they are drinking.

In regards to your alcohol in the car scenario, if one beer was in the car and one person was drinking it, it is truly doubtful that others would be charged.

Surely you can understand the cops point of view. You just write everyone who had access. How else do you do it?

Sometimes, the Bill of Rights trumps the cops' convenience. If a cop can't ascertain who truly committed a crime, then no one should be charged. Why should people that have committed no crime be punished just so the cops can take short cuts?