By Keith G. Oliver, Keith Oliver Criminal Law | Updated November 2026
Lawrence Township is home to Rider University, along with the Quaker Bridge Mall and a busy stretch of Route 1. That mix means Rider students, and the friends who visit them, are regularly charged by the Lawrence Township police with alcohol, fake ID, assault, shoplifting and DWI offenses. Most of these students have never been charged with anything before. With the right approach, most can get through the case without a criminal conviction.
Keith Oliver Criminal Law defends college students and young adults in Lawrence Township and throughout Mercer County. Our Mercer County office is at 100 Horizon Center Boulevard in Hamilton, a short drive from Lawrenceville. Call (609) 789-0779 for a free, confidential consultation. We are not affiliated with Rider University.
Lawrence Township Municipal Court
Most student charges in Lawrence are heard in Lawrence Township Municipal Court at 2211 Lawrenceville Road. That includes fake ID offenses used to buy alcohol, simple assault, shoplifting under $200, disorderly conduct and DWI. Indictable charges go to the Superior Court in Trenton. Our Lawrenceville criminal lawyer page covers the court in detail.
Underage Drinking After 2021
For students under 21, possessing or drinking alcohol, or possessing marijuana, in a public place, on campus or in a car now leads to a written warning under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-15. A second warning comes with information about community services, and a third with a referral. Police cannot arrest or fingerprint you for the violation, and the warnings are destroyed within two years or by age 21. See our under-21 warning guide and Lawrence marijuana page.
What is still charged: supplying alcohol to underage guests (a disorderly persons offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:33-17), selling marijuana, possessing other drugs and anything involving a car. Read more on our underage drinking page.
Under 21 and Driving on Route 1
Route 1, Interstate 295 and the roads around campus are heavily patrolled. A driver under 21 can be penalized under New Jersey’s underage drinking-and-driving law with a blood alcohol content of just 0.01 percent, far below the 0.08 percent limit for adults. Penalties can include a license suspension, community service and an alcohol education program. A reading of 0.08 or higher brings a full DWI charge. Breath test procedures, the reason for the stop and the field sobriety tests can all be challenged. See our Lawrenceville DWI page.
Fake IDs
Lawrence police and local businesses see fake IDs regularly. A student who uses one to buy alcohol faces a disorderly persons offense and a fine of at least $500 under N.J.S.A. 33:1-81. Possessing a fake license is a fourth-degree crime, and presenting it can be charged as third degree under N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1. Selling or making them is second degree. A court may also suspend driving privileges. Many first-offense cases can be downgraded or diverted. See our fake ID page.
Assault and Fights
Fights at parties, in residence halls or at off-campus houses typically lead to a simple assault charge. Injuries, weapons or contact with police can make it aggravated assault, which is an indictable crime. Hazing that causes injury can also lead to criminal charges under New Jersey’s hazing laws. Self-defense, video evidence and witness accounts are central to these cases. See our Lawrenceville assault page.
Shoplifting at Quaker Bridge Mall
Retail theft charges at the mall and the shopping centers along Route 1 are common among students. Under $200 is a disorderly persons offense, and $200 or more is a crime. Every conviction carries mandatory community service. First-time defendants can often avoid a conviction through a conditional dismissal. See our Lawrenceville shoplifting page.
Protecting Your Record and Your Future
A criminal record can affect internships, graduate programs, professional licenses and, for international students, immigration status. The usual goal is to keep the case from becoming a conviction through a conditional dismissal, Pretrial Intervention or a downgrade. Rider may also open a student conduct case on its own timeline, so talk with a lawyer before you speak with university officials. If you have an old record, our expungement lawyers can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be arrested for drinking on campus if I am under 21?
No. Police must issue a written warning instead. You can still be charged with other offenses, such as using a fake ID or assault.
My friend was visiting from another school. Does the same law apply?
Yes. The charge is based on where it happened, so any student charged in Lawrence goes through Lawrence Township Municipal Court or Superior Court in Trenton.
Will my parents find out?
For students 18 and older, police do not notify parents about an under-21 alcohol or marijuana warning. Other charges are public court records.
Talk With a Lawyer About Your Lawrence Township Charge
Call Keith Oliver Criminal Law at (609) 789-0779 for a free, confidential consultation. For other charges, see our Lawrenceville restraining order page or our main Mercer County criminal defense page.