Police in a Massachusetts town are considering changing the punishment for teens caught with alcohol.
Duxbury's police chief has proposed decriminalizing drinking for minors, meaning it would result in a fine instead of an arrest.
Jennifer Klein is a mother of three in town. She's for it, and she has experience, having received a minor in possession of alcohol summons in Arizona when she was 16.
"I was really compelled in subsequent months to really think about what I was doing and who I was doing it with. There was the loss of trust issue with my dad," she said. "I can still see his face when I went home and told him."
She believes saddling a teen with a criminal record for one mistake is not the way to go. Her 16-year-old son, Piers, agrees.
"In the past, if you got caught at a party, either your parents would be called or you'd be arrested," said Piers Klein. "Nobody wants to be arrested in high school."
Some in town are concerned about unforeseen consequences.
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"I just wouldn't want to see a lot of tragedy come from it," said Jill Stewart, who works in town.
Stewart was talking about a drunken car crash with a teen at the wheel - one who'd been cited before.
"I think there should be a limit on how many times you get stopped," said Bertha Santelli. "Like baseball, three strikes, you're out. I think there should be parameters."
Faith Fleming: "I think it should be up to each individual situation, because you don't want to give them a criminal record if its a minor offense," said Faith Fleming. "Obviously drinking and driving, that's a non-no."
Wednesday's meeting was informational. People will be able to vote at a town meeting on Saturday.
