CHAPEL HILL - Pledging in vocal and written words to make better decisions in the future, North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of driving after consuming alcohol under age.

Lawson, a junior starter, has already completed 26 hours of community service, an alcohol assessment and a four-page report on the impact of drinking and driving as part of a plea agreement. Prosecutors dismissed a driving while license revoked charge and a noise ordinance violation.

He was granted a Prayer for Judgment Continued on the charge of driving after consuming alcohol under the age of 21. That means the conviction will stay off his record as long as he stays out of trouble.

"A lot of people could have been hurt from this, like my parents and my teammates," Lawson said after a brief court appearance. "It won't happen again."

UNC coach Roy Williams said through team spokesman Steve Kirschner that he had no comment on Lawson's court appearance. Asked whether there would be any disciplinary action, Kirschner repeated that Williams said he had no comment.

In a four-page essay, Lawson writes about the impact the video "Smashed," which is about drunk driving, had on him: "It made me think of how lucky I am that nothing bad happened that night to me or to anyone else. Drinking and driving do not mix."

He adds that he made a "stupid decision," one that could have hurt not only himself but his family and his team.

"One of the things I have learned from this is that if we are going to party," he wrote, "we need to have someone with us that can help make good choices. Someone who can say don't do that."

Chapel Hill police officer C. Shehan arrested Lawson, 20, at 2:33 a.m. on June 6 on North Columbia Street, in the heart of town. The officer stopped Lawson, who was alone in a 2005 four-door Chevrolet with Maryland plates, after hearing loud music coming from the car.

Shehan suspected that Lawson had been drinking, conducted a field sobriety test and found probable cause to charge him with the misdemeanors, Capt. Chris Blue said at the time.

Assistant District Attorney Jeff Nieman confirmed Lawson registered a .03 on a breathalyzer test. The state's legal limit of intoxication is .08, but state law prohibits anyone under 21 from driving after drinking any amount of alcohol.

Lawson turns 21 on Nov. 3.

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