877-Ben-Hall 517-798-5801 877-Ben-Hall Awards & Recognition
Published: August 15, 2026
By: Ben Hall | Attorney and Owner of Ben Hall Law | Marine Corps and Iraq War Veteran | Former Prosecutor
If you or your student was cited for minor in possession in East Lansing, you probably are not searching because the law is interesting. You are searching because one night near Grand River Avenue, a dorm, a tailgate by Spartan Stadium, or a fraternity house suddenly turned into a legal problem.
Ben Hall Law defends East Lansing MIP charges for Michigan State University students and worried parents who need a clear answer fast. From our office at 139 W Lake Lansing Road Suite 140 in East Lansing, we help you understand what the charge means, what the court will focus on, and where the case may be challenged before it starts shaping your record and future.
An East Lansing MIP charge can feel small on paper and huge in real life. If you are under 21, you may be worried about your record, your license, student conduct issues, internships, housing, or how to explain the situation to your family.
Ben Hall Law represents students and families who need a defense lawyer who understands how these cases start in East Lansing and how quickly they can become more serious if no one reviews them early. Because our office is in East Lansing, you are working with a local law firm, not a call center or statewide ad funnel.
“Ben Hall Law is based in East Lansing at 139 W Lake Lansing Road Suite 140, giving MSU students and parents a local defense option close to campus.”
Whether the incident happened at an apartment off Abbot Road, a party near campus, or a stop after leaving downtown East Lansing, we focus on the details that matter. That includes how police made contact, what was said, whether testing was involved, and whether the allegation fits the statute the state is actually using.
Many parents from Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, and elsewhere in Mid-Michigan call after getting late-night news from an MSU student. We know those calls are urgent, and we keep the conversation direct, practical, and free of judgment.
flowchart LR
A[Police contact in East Lansing] --> B[Ticket or report under MCL 436.1703(1)]
B --> C[Review prior judgments]
B --> D[Review breath test or refusal]
C --> E[First violation: state civil infraction, fine up to $100]
C --> F[Later violation: misdemeanor exposure]
D --> G[Secretary of State lists MIP as 0-point non-moving violation]
D --> H[Refused preliminary breath test listed separately as 2-point offense]
Under MCL 436.1703(1), a minor may not purchase, attempt to purchase, consume, attempt to consume, possess, attempt to possess alcoholic liquor, or have any bodily alcohol content. A first violation is treated as a state civil infraction and is punishable by a fine of not more than $100, but a later violation after one prior judgment can become a misdemeanor.
“Ben Hall Law reviews East Lansing MIP cases early because a first violation may be a state civil infraction with a fine of not more than $100, while a later violation can become a misdemeanor.”
That difference matters. If there is a prior judgment, or if the incident also involves testing or a refusal issue, the legal exposure can change quickly.
The Michigan Secretary of State lists MCL 436.1703(1) as offense code 1360, a non-moving violation with 0 points. The same state table separately lists an under-21 refused preliminary breath test entry, offense code 1360R, as a 2-point offense, which is one reason Ben Hall Law looks closely at what officers requested and how the report was written.
| Issue in an East Lansing MIP case | What the official rule says | Why Ben Hall Law reviews it closely |
|---|---|---|
| First MIP allegation | First violation under MCL 436.1703(1) is a state civil infraction with a fine of not more than $100 | The paper charge may look simple, but the facts still matter for your record and next steps |
| Prior judgment | A later violation after one prior judgment can be charged as a misdemeanor | Prior history can change the stakes fast |
| License points | Secretary of State lists 436.1703(1) as a 0-point non-moving violation | You need to separate the MIP entry from other possible license-related issues |
| Refused preliminary breath test | Secretary of State lists under-21 refusal separately as a 2-point offense | A refusal allegation can create an additional problem beyond the MIP itself |
| Court-ordered conditions | Later violations may bring community service, screening and assessment, and substance use disorder services at the minor’s expense | Outcome planning matters, not just charge review |
Ben Hall Law helps you see the case as the court and the state will see it, not just as the ticket describes it in one line. That makes it easier to make smart decisions early, especially if you are balancing school, family pressure, and court deadlines at the same time.
Ben Hall Law was built on firsthand experience inside the criminal justice system. Benjamin J. Hall served five years in the United States Marine Corps, worked as a police officer while earning his law degree, and later joined the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, which gives our firm a practical view of how police reports are built, how charges are evaluated, and where weaknesses can appear in an MIP case.
“Ben Hall Law brings perspective from 5 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, police work, and the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office to East Lansing criminal defense.”
We do not start with assumptions. We start by going back to the beginning of the case and reviewing how the contact happened, how evidence was gathered, whether procedures were followed, and whether the facts support the accusation that was made.
Ben Hall Law also prepares criminal cases as though they are going to trial. That trial-ready standard matters even in MIP defense because it forces a deeper review of witness statements, officer observations, testing issues, and investigation gaps that a quick plea-focused approach can miss.
Ben Hall Law publishes criminal case results that include dismissed charges, no charges issued, and reduced outcomes. Those published examples show the value of examining witness statements, police reports, and investigation weaknesses instead of treating the accusation as final.
flowchart TD
A[Your call to Ben Hall Law] --> B[Review the ticket, report, and court information]
B --> C[Identify the exact charge and any related testing issue]
C --> D[Check for prior judgments and procedural problems]
D --> E[Build defense strategy]
E --> F[Negotiate, challenge, or prepare for court from a trial-ready position]
When your future at MSU or your family’s peace of mind is on the line, you want a lawyer who understands both the statute and the system that applies it. Ben Hall Law brings both to East Lansing MIP defense.
A large share of East Lansing MIP cases involve students who have never been in court before. They are often searching late at night, scared, and not even sure whether the citation is “serious enough” to hire a lawyer.
Ben Hall Law is a strong fit when you want more than a generic explanation of minor in possession law. We focus on the real situation around the charge, especially when it involves MSU students, fraternity or sorority members, campus-adjacent housing, or overlap with student discipline concerns.
If you are a parent, you may be the one paying for counsel while your son or daughter is the one facing court. Ben Hall Law helps families in East Lansing, Lansing, Okemos, and Haslett get clear on the statute, the likely process, and the pressure points in the case without adding drama to an already tense situation.
If you are a student, you need straight answers about what happened and what happens next. We explain the charge in plain language and focus on practical defense work, not lectures.
“Ben Hall Law helps MSU students and parents separate the MIP allegation from other risks, including the Secretary of State’s 0-point MIP entry and the separate 2-point refused breath test issue.”
That clarity is especially important in Greek life matters, where one night can trigger personal consequences, chapter pressure, and court concerns all at once. Our job is to protect your position by understanding the exact ordinance or statute involved and the facts behind it.
When you contact Ben Hall Law, we focus first on sorting the case correctly. That usually starts with a few practical questions:
Ben Hall Law uses those details to identify what you are actually facing and what needs immediate attention. That can make the next step feel far less chaotic, especially if you are trying to protect your academic path at Michigan State while also responding to court deadlines at the same time.
We also understand that communication matters in student cases. Sometimes the student calls first from campus. Sometimes a parent from out of town calls the next morning. We are used to both, and we keep the process organized so the right documents, dates, and concerns do not get lost.
Not under the official rule described here. A first violation of MCL 436.1703(1) is a state civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $100. A later violation after one prior judgment can become a misdemeanor, which is one reason Ben Hall Law reviews prior history early.
The Michigan Secretary of State lists MCL 436.1703(1) as a non-moving violation with 0 points. Ben Hall Law still reviews the full paperwork because a separate under-21 refused preliminary breath test entry is listed differently.
The Secretary of State lists a refused preliminary breath test by a person under 21 as a separate 2-point offense. Ben Hall Law checks whether that issue is part of your case and how it was documented.
MCL 436.1703(1) includes having any bodily alcohol content as part of the conduct prohibited for a minor. In practice, that means Ben Hall Law needs to review the specific allegation, any testing, and the officer’s observations rather than assuming every MIP case is the same.
Because the ticket is not the whole story. Prior judgments, testing issues, refusal allegations, and the facts in the police report can change the risk and the strategy. Ben Hall Law reviews the case early so you know what you are dealing with before making decisions that affect your record.
Yes. Ben Hall Law regularly serves people in East Lansing and surrounding communities, and this practice is built for the realities of student defense, parent communication, and local criminal court pressure.
Ben Hall Law is located at 139 W Lake Lansing Road Suite 140, East Lansing, MI 48823. Our office serves clients throughout East Lansing, Lansing, Ingham County, and nearby Michigan communities.
If you are dealing with an East Lansing MIP charge, now is the time to get the facts sorted out before the case becomes harder to manage. Call Ben Hall Law at 877-BEN-HALL to talk through the charge, the paperwork, and the next best step for protecting your record, license, and future.