Lawmakers consider alcohol amnesty
Updated: February 21, 2013
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY -- State lawmakers are looking at a bill to give alcohol amnesty to minors. That means under-aged drinkers who need medical help can get it without getting in trouble.
Some police departments do this already. It's kind of an unwritten rule at the University of Illinois Police Department. Captain Roy Acree said they've been doing it for as long as he can remember.
When someone calls them and needs medical attention they won't give them a ticket for drinking or arrest them. Acree said the first job for first responders is to make sure everyone is okay. They want to make sure people aren't scared to ask for help if they need it, especially when it comes to alcohol poisoning.
"Sometimes they really need to be transported to the hospital and they aren't just because nobody calls for them because they're at an underaged drinking party or something else is taking place and they don't get the medical attention they need," said Acree.
That doesn't mean you get a pass. If officers are trying to help and someone starts fighting with them, they could still get in trouble. The bill is in the statehouse right now is working its way through a house committee. But if it's passed, it would be in effect for people all over the state.
Some police departments do this already. It's kind of an unwritten rule at the University of Illinois Police Department. Captain Roy Acree said they've been doing it for as long as he can remember.
When someone calls them and needs medical attention they won't give them a ticket for drinking or arrest them. Acree said the first job for first responders is to make sure everyone is okay. They want to make sure people aren't scared to ask for help if they need it, especially when it comes to alcohol poisoning.
"Sometimes they really need to be transported to the hospital and they aren't just because nobody calls for them because they're at an underaged drinking party or something else is taking place and they don't get the medical attention they need," said Acree.
That doesn't mean you get a pass. If officers are trying to help and someone starts fighting with them, they could still get in trouble. The bill is in the statehouse right now is working its way through a house committee. But if it's passed, it would be in effect for people all over the state.
