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New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law Section 65-b - Offense For One Under Age Of Twenty-one Years To Purchase Or Attempt To Purchase An Alcoholic Beverage Through Fraudulent Means.

Legal Research Home > New York Lawyer > Alcoholic Beverage Control > New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law Section 65-b - Offense For One Under Age Of Twenty-one Years To Purchase Or Attempt To Purchase An Alcoholic Beverage Through Fraudulent Means.




    * § 65-b. Offense for one under age of twenty-one years to purchase or
  attempt  to  purchase an alcoholic beverage through fraudulent means. 1.
  As used in this section:  (a)  "A  device  capable  of  deciphering  any
  electronically  readable  format"  or "device" shall mean any commercial
  device or combination of devices used at a point of sale or  entry  that
  is  capable  of reading the information encoded on the magnetic strip or
  bar code of a driver's license or non-driver identification card  issued
  by the commissioner of motor vehicles;
    (b)  "Card  holder"  means any person presenting a driver's license or
  non-driver identification card  to  a  licensee,  or  to  the  agent  or
  employee of such licensee under this chapter; and
    (c) "Transaction scan" means the process involving a device capable of
  deciphering  any  electronically readable format by which a licensee, or
  agent or employee of a licensee under this chapter  reviews  a  driver's
  license  or  non-driver  identification card presented as a precondition
  for the purchase of an alcoholic beverage as required by subdivision two
  of this section or as a precondition for admission to  an  establishment
  licensed for the on-premises sale of alcoholic beverages where admission
  is restricted to persons twenty-one years or older.
    2.  (a)  No  person under the age of twenty-one years shall present or
  offer to any licensee under this chapter, or to the agent or employee of
  such licensee, any written evidence of age which is false, fraudulent or
  not actually his own, for the purpose of  purchasing  or  attempting  to
  purchase any alcoholic beverage.
    (b) No licensee, or agent or employee of such licensee shall accept as
  written  evidence  of  age  by  any  such person for the purchase of any
  alcoholic beverage, any documentation other than: (i) a  valid  driver's
  license  or non-driver identification card issued by the commissioner of
  motor vehicles, the federal government,  any  United  States  territory,
  commonwealth or possession, the District of Columbia, a state government
  within  the  United States or a provincial government of the dominion of
  Canada, or (ii) a valid passport issued by the United States  government
  or  any  other  country,  or  (iii) an identification card issued by the
  armed forces of  the  United  States.  Upon  the  presentation  of  such
  driver's   license   or  non-driver  identification  card  issued  by  a
  governmental entity, such licensee or  agent  or  employee  thereof  may
  perform  a  transaction  scan  as  a  precondition  to  the  sale of any
  alcoholic beverage. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a licensee or
  agent or employee from performing such a transaction scan on any of  the
  other  documents  listed in this subdivision if such documents include a
  bar code or magnetic strip that that may be scanned by a device  capable
  of deciphering any electronically readable format.
    (c)  In  instances where the information deciphered by the transaction
  scan fails to match the information printed on the driver's  license  or
  non-driver  identification  card presented by the card holder, or if the
  transaction scan indicates that the information is false or  fraudulent,
  the attempted purchase of the alcoholic beverage shall be denied.
    3.  A  person violating the provisions of paragraph (a) of subdivision
  two of this section  shall  be  guilty  of  a  violation  and  shall  be
  sentenced in accordance with the following:
    (a)  For a first violation, the court shall order payment of a fine of
  not more than one  hundred  dollars  and/or  an  appropriate  amount  of
  community service not to exceed thirty hours. In addition, the court may
  order completion of an alcohol awareness program established pursuant to
  section 19.25 of the mental hygiene law.
    (b) For a second violation, the court shall order payment of a fine of
  not  less  than  fifty dollars nor more than three hundred fifty dollars
  and/or an appropriate amount of community service not to  exceed  thirty
  hours.  The  court  also  shall order completion of an alcohol awareness
  program as referenced in paragraph  (a)  of  this  subdivision  if  such
  program  has  not  previously been completed by the offender, unless the
  court  determines that attendance at such program is not feasible due to
  the lack of availability of  such  program  within  a  reasonably  close
  proximity to the locality in which the offender resides or matriculates,
  as appropriate.
    (c) For third and subsequent violations, the court shall order payment
  of  a  fine  of  not less than fifty dollars nor more than seven hundred
  fifty dollars and/or an appropriate amount of community service  not  to
  exceed  thirty hours. The court also shall order that such person submit
  to an evaluation by an appropriate agency certified or licensed  by  the
  office  of  alcoholism and substance abuse services to determine whether
  the person suffers from the disease  of  alcoholism  or  alcohol  abuse,
  unless  the court determines that under the circumstances presented such
  an evaluation is not necessary, in which case the court shall  state  on
  the record the basis for such determination. Payment for such evaluation
  shall  be  made by such person. If, based on such evaluation, a need for
  treatment is indicated, such person  may  choose  to  participate  in  a
  treatment  plan  developed  by  an  agency  certified or licensed by the
  office of alcoholism and substance abuse services. If such person elects
  to participate in recommended treatment,  the  court  shall  order  that
  payment  of  such  fine  and  community service be suspended pending the
  completion of such treatment.
    (d) Evaluation procedures.  For  purposes  of  this  subdivision,  the
  following shall apply:
    (i)  The  contents  of an evaluation pursuant to paragraph (c) of this
  subdivision shall be used for the sole purpose of  determining  if  such
  person suffers from the disease of alcoholism or alcohol abuse.
    (ii)  The  agency  designated  by the court to perform such evaluation
  shall conduct the evaluation and return the results to the court  within
  thirty  days,  subject to any state or federal confidentiality law, rule
  or regulation governing the confidentiality  of  alcohol  and  substance
  abuse treatment records.
    (iii) The office of alcoholism and substance abuse services shall make
  available  to  each  supreme  court law library in this state, or, if no
  supreme court law library is available  in  a  certain  county,  to  the
  county court law library of such county, a list of agencies certified to
  perform  evaluations  as required by subdivision (f) of section 19.07 of
  the mental hygiene law.
    (iv) All evaluations required  under  this  subdivision  shall  be  in
  writing  and the person so evaluated or his or her counsel shall receive
  a copy of such evaluation prior to its use by the court.
    (v) A minor evaluated under this subdivision shall have, and shall  be
  informed by the court of, the right to obtain a second opinion regarding
  his or her need for alcoholism treatment.
    4.  A  person violating the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision
  two of this section shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a  fine
  of  not  more  than one hundred dollars, and/or an appropriate amount of
  community service not to exceed thirty hours. In addition, the court may
  order completion of an alcohol training  awareness  program  established
  pursuant  to  subdivision  twelve  of  section seventeen of this chapter
  where such program is located within a reasonably close proximity to the
  locality in which the offender is employed or resides.
    5. No determination of guilt pursuant to this section shall operate as
  a disqualification of  any  such  person  subsequently  to  hold  public
  office,  public employment, or as a forfeiture of any right or privilege
  or to receive any license granted  by  public  authority;  and  no  such
  person shall be denominated a criminal by reason of such determination.
    6.  In  addition  to  the  penalties otherwise provided in subdivision
  three of this section, if a determination is made sustaining a charge of
  illegally purchasing or attempting to illegally  purchase  an  alcoholic
  beverage,  the  court may suspend such person's license to drive a motor
  vehicle and the privilege of an  unlicensed  person  of  obtaining  such
  license, in accordance with the following and for the following periods,
  if  it is found that a driver's license was used for the purpose of such
  illegal purchase or attempt to illegally  purchase;  provided,  however,
  that  where  a  person  is sentenced pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of
  subdivision three of this section, the court shall impose  such  license
  suspension  if  it  is  found  that  a driver's license was used for the
  purpose of such illegal purchase or attempt to illegally purchase:
    (a) For a first violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of  this
  section, a three month suspension.
    (b) For a second violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this
  section, a six month suspension.
    (c)   For  a  third  or  subsequent  violation  of  paragraph  (a)  of
  subdivision two of this section, a suspension for one year or until  the
  holder reaches the age of twenty-one, whichever is the greater period of
  time.
    Such  person  may  thereafter apply for and be issued a restricted use
  license in accordance with the provisions of section five hundred thirty
  of the vehicle and traffic law.
    7. (a) In any  proceeding  pursuant  to  subdivision  one  of  section
  sixty-five of this article, it shall be an affirmative defense that such
  person had produced a driver's license or non-driver identification card
  apparently  issued  by a governmental entity, successfully completed the
  transaction scan,  and  that  the  alcoholic  beverage  had  been  sold,
  delivered  or  given  to  such  person  in reasonable reliance upon such
  identification and transaction scan. In evaluating the applicability  of
  such   affirmative   defense,  the  liquor  authority  shall  take  into
  consideration any written policy adopted and implemented by  the  seller
  to  carry  out the provisions of this chapter. Use of a transaction scan
  shall not excuse any licensee under this chapter, or agent  or  employee
  of  such  licensee,  from the exercise of reasonable diligence otherwise
  required by this section. Notwithstanding the above provisions, any such
  affirmative defense shall not  be  applicable  in  any  other  civil  or
  criminal proceeding, or in any other forum.
    (b)  A  licensee or agent or employee of a licensee may electronically
  or  mechanically  record  and  maintain  only  the  information  from  a
  transaction  scan  necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section.
  Such information shall be limited to the following: (i) name, (ii)  date
  of  birth,  (iii)  driver's license or non-driver identification number,
  and  (iv)  expiration  date.  The  liquor  authority   and   the   state
  commissioner  of  motor vehicles shall jointly promulgate any regulation
  necessary to govern the recording and maintenance of these records by  a
  licensee  under  this chapter. The liquor authority and the commissioner
  of health shall jointly promulgate any regulations necessary  to  ensure
  quality control in the use of transaction scan devices.
    8. A licensee or agent or employee of such licensee shall only use the
  information  recorded and maintained through the use of such devices for
  the purposes contained in paragraph (a) of  subdivision  seven  of  this
  section,  and  shall only use such devices for the purposes contained in
  subdivision two of this section. No licensee or agent or employee  of  a
  licensee  shall  resell  or  disseminate the information recorded during
  such scan to any third person. Such prohibited resale  or  dissemination
  includes,   but  is  not  limited  to,  any  advertising,  marketing  or
  promotional activities. Notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by this
  subdivision, such records may be released pursuant to  a  court  ordered
  subpoena  or  pursuant to any other statute that specifically authorizes
  the release of such information.  Each  violation  of  this  subdivision
  shall  be  punishable  by  a civil penalty of not more than one thousand
  dollars.
    * NB Effective until January 1, 2008
    * § 65-b. Offense for one under age of twenty-one years to purchase or
  attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage through fraudulent  means.  1.
  (a)  No  person under the age of twenty-one years shall present or offer
  to any licensee under this chapter, or to the agent or employee of  such
  licensee,  any written evidence of age which is false, fraudulent or not
  actually his own,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  or  attempting  to
  purchase any alcoholic beverage.
    (b) No licensee, or agent or employee of such licensee shall accept as
  written  evidence  of  age  by  any  such person for the purchase of any
  alcoholic beverage, any documentation other than: (i) a  valid  driver's
  license  or non-driver identification card issued by the commissioner of
  motor vehicles, the federal government,  any  United  States  territory,
  commonwealth or possession, the District of Columbia, a state government
  within  the  United States or a provincial government of the dominion of
  Canada, or (ii) a valid passport issued by the United States  government
  or  any  other  country,  or  (iii) an identification card issued by the
  armed forces of the United States.
    2. A person violating the provisions of paragraph (a)  of  subdivision
  one  of  this  section  shall  be  guilty  of  a  violation and shall be
  sentenced in accordance with the following:
    (a) For a first violation, the court shall order payment of a fine  of
  not  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  and/or  an appropriate amount of
  community service not to exceed thirty hours. In addition, the court may
  order completion of an alcohol awareness program established pursuant to
  section 19.25 of the mental hygiene law.
    (b) For a second violation, the court shall order payment of a fine of
  not less than fifty dollars nor more than three  hundred  fifty  dollars
  and/or  an  appropriate amount of community service not to exceed thirty
  hours. The court also shall order completion  of  an  alcohol  awareness
  program  as  referenced  in  paragraph  (a)  of this subdivision if such
  program has not previously been completed by the  offender,  unless  the
  court  determines that attendance at such program is not feasible due to
  the lack of availability of  such  program  within  a  reasonably  close
  proximity to the locality in which the offender resides or matriculates,
  as appropriate.
    (c) For third and subsequent violations, the court shall order payment
  of  a  fine  of  not less than fifty dollars nor more than seven hundred
  fifty dollars and/or an appropriate amount of community service  not  to
  exceed  thirty hours. The court also shall order that such person submit
  to an evaluation by an appropriate agency certified or licensed  by  the
  office  of  alcoholism and substance abuse services to determine whether
  the person suffers from the disease  of  alcoholism  or  alcohol  abuse,
  unless  the court determines that under the circumstances presented such
  an evaluation is not necessary, in which case the court shall  state  on
  the record the basis for such determination. Payment for such evaluation
  shall  be  made by such person. If, based on such evaluation, a need for
  treatment is indicated, such person  may  choose  to  participate  in  a
  treatment  plan  developed  by  an  agency  certified or licensed by the
  office of alcoholism and substance abuse services. If such person elects
  to participate in recommended treatment,  the  court  shall  order  that
  payment  of  such  fine  and  community service be suspended pending the
  completion of such treatment.
    (d)  Evaluation  procedures.  For  purposes  of  this subdivision, the
  following shall apply:
    (i) The contents of an evaluation pursuant to paragraph  (c)  of  this
  subdivision  shall  be  used for the sole purpose of determining if such
  person suffers from the disease of alcoholism or alcohol abuse.
    (ii) The agency designated by the court  to  perform  such  evaluation
  shall  conduct the evaluation and return the results to the court within
  thirty days, subject to any state or federal confidentiality  law,  rule
  or  regulation  governing  the  confidentiality of alcohol and substance
  abuse treatment records.
    (iii) The office of alcoholism and substance abuse services shall make
  available to each supreme court law library in this  state,  or,  if  no
  supreme  court  law  library  is  available  in a certain county, to the
  county court law library of such county, a list of agencies certified to
  perform evaluations as required by subdivision (f) of section  19.07  of
  the mental hygiene law.
    (iv)  All  evaluations  required  under  this  subdivision shall be in
  writing and the person so evaluated or his or her counsel shall  receive
  a copy of such evaluation prior to its use by the court.
    (v)  A minor evaluated under this subdivision shall have, and shall be
  informed by the court of, the right to obtain a second opinion regarding
  his or her need for alcoholism treatment.
    3. A person violating the provisions of paragraph (b)  of  subdivision
  one  of this section shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine
  of not more than one hundred dollars, and/or an  appropriate  amount  of
  community service not to exceed thirty hours. In addition, the court may
  order  completion  of  an alcohol training awareness program established
  pursuant to subdivision twelve of  section  seventeen  of  this  chapter
  where such program is located within a reasonably close proximity to the
  locality in which the offender is employed or resides.
    4. No determination of guilt pursuant to this section shall operate as
  a  disqualification  of  any  such  person  subsequently  to hold public
  office, public employment, or as a forfeiture of any right or  privilege
  or  to  receive  any  license  granted  by public authority; and no such
  person shall be denominated a criminal by reason of such determination.
    5. In addition to the penalties otherwise provided in subdivision  two
  of  this  section,  if  a  determination  is made sustaining a charge of
  illegally purchasing or attempting to illegally  purchase  an  alcoholic
  beverage,  the  court may suspend such person's license to drive a motor
  vehicle and the privilege of an  unlicensed  person  of  obtaining  such
  license, in accordance with the following and for the following periods,
  if  it is found that a driver's license was used for the purpose of such
  illegal purchase or attempt to illegally  purchase;  provided,  however,
  that  where  a  person  is sentenced pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of
  subdivision two of this section, the court  shall  impose  such  license
  suspension  if  it  is  found  that  a driver's license was used for the
  purpose of such illegal purchase or attempt to illegally purchase:
    (a) For a first violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision one of  this
  section, a three month suspension.
    (b) For a second violation of paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this
  section, a six month suspension.
    (c)   For  a  third  or  subsequent  violation  of  paragraph  (a)  of
  subdivision one of this section, a suspension for one year or until  the
  holder reaches the age of twenty-one, whichever is the greater period of
  time.
    Such  person  may  thereafter apply for and be issued a restricted use
  license in accordance with the provisions of section five hundred thirty
  of the vehicle and traffic law.
    * NB Effective January 1, 2008

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Last modified: August 26, 2006