Pa. lawmaker seeks higher fine for underage drinking

The sponsor of a new Pennsylvania law increasing maximum fines for underage drinking says he'll seek an additional financial penalty in the legislative session that starts next month.

Sen. Jake Corman said Monday he will resubmit his bill to allow municipalities that include all or part of a university or college to impose a $100 fee for alcohol-related offenses to help finance local prevention programs.

The Centre County Republican sponsored a new law that will boost the maximum fine for underage drinking from $300 to $500 and double the fine for subsequent offenses to $1,000. The law takes effect on Dec. 24.

Corman says the new law is designed to help college communities like State College pay for the cost of prosecuting drinking-related crime and to discourage underage drinking.