Student Handbook
Legal Risks
Legal Risks Associated with Drug Use
Below are some of the legal consequences for drug use. Please refer to the links titled "Federal Trafficking Penalties" for more information.
Possession of Marijuana: First offense: Can be arrested and imprisoned for as long as six months, and/or assessed a fine of up to $500. Potential for loss of license up to five years. Subsequent offenses can carry up to two years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $2,000.
Possession of Cocaine (Crack, etc.): Can be arrested and imprisoned for up to one year and/or assessed a fine of up to $1,000. Potential for loss of license up to five years.
Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute: Can be arrested and imprisoned for up to two years and/or assessed a fine of between $500 and $5,000. Potential for loss of license up to five years. Subsequent offenses could lead to imprisonment for between one and two-and-one-half years and/or assessment of a fine from $1,000 to $10,000.
Possession of Cocaine (Crack, etc.) with Intent to Distribute: Can be arrested and imprisoned for up to 10 years and/or assessed a fine from $1,000 to $10,000 and/or potential for loss of license up to five years. Subsequent offenses could lead to imprisonment for three to 10 years and assessment of a fine of between $2,500 and $25,000.
Legal Risks of Alcohol Use or Misuse
Students who are in violation of Massachusetts laws regarding the use of alcohol also may be subject to judicial action through the Bentley Student Judicial System.
Massachusetts Law indicates the following legal risks associated with alcohol use:
Underage (21) Possession of Alcohol: Massachusetts prohibits issuance of any license for the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons less than 21 years of age, prohibits persons less than 21 years of age from knowingly transporting or carrying on their person any alcoholic beverages, except in the course of formal employment. There is a fine of $50 for the first violation, and $150 for each subsequent offense. A three month driver's license suspension is also possible. A police officer (including Campus Police) may arrest, without warrant, any person who violates this section of the law.
Underage(21) Purchase or Attempted Purchase of Alcohol: Subject to $300 fine and mandatory six-month license suspension.
Forgery or Alteration of Massachusetts Driver's License: refers to persons who misrepresent their age or present falsified IDs to purchase alcoholic beverages. The falsification of identification can lead to arrest, fines up to $500 and/or imprisonment up to five years. In addition loss of licensure for one year may result.
Driving while Intoxicated: Massachusetts' Operating Under the Influence Statute creates permissible inference that an individual with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 or greater has violated the law. For a first offense, violators are subject to a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5000 and/or imprisonment for up to two and a half years. Individuals under the age of 21 whose blood alcohol content is .02 or greater, or who refuse to consent to a blood alcohol analysis, shall lose their license for 180 days.
Driving with an open container: can be arrested and fined $100 to $500.
Purchasing Alcohol for Minors: Prescribes fines of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed six months for patrons of licensed premises who deliver or procure to be delivered, any alcoholic beverage to or for the use of a person he or she knows or has reason to believe is less than 21 years of age.
