Is Being Drunk in Public a Crime in Manassas?

Is Being Drunk in Public a Crime in Manassas?

Is being drunk in public a crime in Manassas?  Because it is not punished with jail time and can be pre-paid without coming to court, many people think that a Drunk in Public charge in Manassas is not a crime.  However, it in fact IS a crime and a conviction (even by pre-paying the fine) will result in a permanent criminal record that can never be expunged.

Manassas Drunk in Public Charge

A Drunk in Public charge in Manassas criminalizes being intoxicated in public.  It is usually charged as a violation of Va. Code §18.2-388, but Prince William County also has it’s own county code version of public intoxication in §16-14.  Both laws criminalize being intoxicated in public, whether the person is intoxicated from alcohol or drugs-even a prescription.

A person is “intoxicated” when he has consumed enough intoxicants to observably affect his manner, disposition, speech, muscular movement, general appearance or behavior.

The term “public” has a broad definition in Virginia and includes places visible to the public.  Therefore, a person can be convicted of being Drunk in Public in Manassas if he is intoxicated on his own property if it is visible to the public.

Is Being Drunk in Public a Crime in Manassas?

A Manassas Drunk in Public charge is a Class 4 misdemeanor, punished with a fine up to $250.  A conviction will prohibit the offender from obtaining a concealed carry permit for 3 years and if he has one, it will be forfeited.  Additionally, a conviction can never be expunged from the offender’s criminal record.

A Drunk in Public charge in Manassas is not punished with jail time, but the accused can still be taken to the local jail and held until he is no longer intoxicated.

For more information on a Manassas Drunk in Public charge, click here.

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