Programs

When 16 to 20 year olds are caught possessing, consuming, or attempting to obtain alcohol, the first offense in Vermont is a “civil ticket” (title 7, V.S.A. section § 656). If the under-aged person successfully completes the Teen Alcohol Safety Program (T.A.S.P.) as administered by the local Court Diversion program, the ticket is voided and never processed by the state.


If an individual fails the program or chooses not to participate, the ticket is issued. There is a fine of $300, a 90-day driver’s license suspension, and a $71 reinstatement fee to the VT Dept of Motor Vehicles (with additional fees if you are licensed in another state). People taking this option should also be aware that a license suspension is likely to make individual or family car insurance very, very expensive. (Please Note: DLS - Driving with license suspended - is a criminal offense in VT.)


A person is given 15 days from receipt of the “notice of violation” to contact the Teen Alcohol Safety Program. Once enrolled, there are three (3) requirements which must be fulfilled:

1. By law, the individual must complete a substance abuse screening / assessment by a substance abuse counselor (a CADC or an LADC), and follow through with any and all recommendations made by the clinician.

2. Each participant will be assessed a program fee payable to the Teen Alcohol Safety Program (T.A.S.P.).

3. All local participants must complete an educational / self-reflective component (e.g. attend ENCARE [a 3-hour session held at the Dept. of Corrections] or complete a research project on a chosen topic).

All conditions must be completed in 90 days unless otherwise provided in the T. A.S.P. Contract.

Subsequent instances of under-aged drinking in Caledonia and Essex Counties are misdemeanor offenses charged in criminal court (title 7, VSA section § 657).

Points To Consider:

Offenses such as:

Ø  Displaying false identification;                                                                                                             

Ø   Enabling consumption by a minor;

Ø  Operating a motor vehicle with a  blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .02 or higher; or        

Ø  Possessing of any illegal drug; are separate offenses—which carry their own punishment—even if they happen at the same time as the under-aged possession, consumption or attempting to obtain alcohol.

In Caledonia and Essex Counties, the Teen Alcohol Safety Program (TASP) is run by Caledonia and Essex Counties Court Diversion, programs of NEKYS.

For more information call: 802-748-8732 or e-mail: nekys@nekys.org