Possession of drugs with the intent to distribute within 300 feet of school or daycare property is a very serious crime in Massachusetts and carries a mandatory minimum two-and-a-half year sentence. Much of the College’s campus qualifies as a school zone for purposes of this law. Town of Franklin Alcoholic Beverages Law No person shall drink or have in their possession an open container of any alcoholic beverage while in or upon any public way or any way to which the public has a right of access, any municipal building, facility or land or any place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees, except upon premises or at an event for which the Town Council has issued an alcoholic beverages license. The penalty for each violation of this article shall be $300; the enforcing agent shall be the Franklin Police Department. Impact of Drug Conviction on Federal Financial Aid Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act, a student may become ineligible for federal student aid upon a conviction of any offense involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs under any federal or state law while receiving Title IV federal financial aid. Federal aid includes: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal ACG Grants, Federal SMART Grants, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Direct GradPLUS Loans, Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Work Study. The periods of ineligibility for possession of illegal drugs range from one year for a first conviction to indefinite ineligibility for a third conviction. The penalty for the sale of illegal drugs ranges from two years of ineligibility for a first conviction to indefinite ineligibility for a second or third offense. A conviction for both possessing and selling illegal drugs carries the longer period of ineligibility. A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when the student successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program. The student will lose eligibility again upon a subsequent drug conviction. A student who is convicted of a drug offense after receiving federal aid must notify the Dean College Office of Financial Aid immediately. The student may be ineligible for further aid in that academic year and required to pay back all federal aid received after the date of the conviction. The Office of Financial Aid will work with the student regarding all of the available options. For complete information, please see the FAFSA web page or contact the Federal Student Information Center at 1 (800) 4–FED–AID. Health Risks Associated With Drug and Alcohol Use Alcohol affects the body and the mind. Physically, alcohol enters the bloodstream almost immediately and circulates to the brain and organs. It depresses the central nervous system, slowing the thought process, the reflexes and other physical skills. A person may find themselves to be confused, moody, angry, emotional and disoriented.
Any person who knowingly makes a false statement as to the age of a person who is under 21 years of age in order to procure a sale or delivery of such alcoholic beverages or alcohol to such person under 21 years of age, either for the use of the person under 21 years of age or for the use of some other person, and whoever induces a person under 21 years of age to make a false statement as to their age in order to procure a sale or delivery of such beverages or alcohol to such person under 21 years of age, shall be punished by a fine of $300. A conviction for violating these provisions will be reported to the registrar of motor vehicles, who will suspend the defendant’s driver’s license for 180 days. Any person in a licensed premises shall, upon request of an agent of the commission or the local licensing authorities, state their name, age and address. Whoever, upon such request, refuses to state their name, age or address, or states a false name, age or address, including a name or address which is not their name or address in ordinary use, will be guilty of a misdemeanor and will be punished by a fine of not more than $500. Any person who transfers, alters or defaces any driver’s license or liquor purchase identification card, or who makes, uses, carries, sells or distributes a false identification card or license, or uses the identification card or motor vehicle license of another, or furnishes false information in obtaining such card or license, will be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $200 or by imprisonment for not more than three months. Any person under 21 years of age and not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who knowingly possesses, transports or carries on their person any alcohol or alcoholic beverages shall be punished by a fine of not more than $50 for the first offense and not more than $150 for a second or subsequent offense. A conviction for violating this provision will be reported to the registrar of motor vehicles, who will suspend the defendant’s driver’s license for 90 days. The host of a party may be liable for injuries caused by their guests. A host who knew or should have known that their guest was drunk, and nevertheless gave or permitted the guest to take an alcoholic drink, is exposed to liability for any injuries the intoxicated guest caused to a third person through negligent operation of a car. If the guest is a minor, the host may be liable even if the minor was not intoxicated when the host served the minor alcohol. The maximum permitted blood-alcohol level for drivers over 21 years of age is .08. A first conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol carries mandatory alcohol education, a 210 day suspension and fees. Massachusetts has a “zero tolerance” law for drivers under 21 years of age. For such drivers, any alcohol level greater than .02 (roughly equivalent to one mixed drink or beer) will result in on-the-spot revocation of the driver’s license. Massachusetts imposes criminal penalties concerning the use and possession of drugs, varying with the type of drug. In general, narcotics, addictive drugs and drugs with greater potential for abuse carry higher penalties. For instance, Massachusetts makes it illegal to be in a place where heroin is kept or to be “in the company” of a person known to possess heroin. Anyone in the presence of heroin at a private party risks a serious drug conviction. In addition, the sale or possession of drug paraphernalia is illegal in Massachusetts.
Department of Campus Police and Safety
Department of Campus Police and Safety
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