AGENDA #5e

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Update to Police Response to Teen Parties

DATE: May 9, 2005

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on the Police Department’s response to the issue of teen parties at which alcohol is present.

BACKGROUND

On October 11, 2004, members of the Committee for Alcohol and Drug Free Teenagers submitted a petition to the Council in which they sought support for initiatives intended to lessen the availability of alcohol to minors, to increase the level of enforcement for violations of alcohol-related laws, and to fund additional treatment programs in Orange County. 

On December 6, 2004, we submitted a response to the petition in which we listed several response protocols that the Police Department had developed to address the Committee’s concerns about the perceived lack of enforcement of alcohol laws.  A copy of that memorandum is attached.

We agreed at that time to issue quarterly updates to the Council regarding our efforts to reduce the level of alcohol violations by high school age teenagers.  

DISCUSSION

In the past six months we have made significant progress in our efforts to reduce the availability of alcohol to teens and to enhance enforcement policies. 

• The Police Department’s enforcement protocols for responding to teen parties where alcohol is present were codified into a formal policy.  In making this change two important elements were added to the policy.  Officers who respond to a party will now detain and identify all persons under the age of 18 who have consumed alcohol and will ensure that an adult takes responsibility for each of the teens.  Previously officers only detained those who appeared to be intoxicated.  Also, if evidence found at the scene is sufficient to support a criminal investigation to determine who provided alcohol to teens, such an investigation will be initiated.

These protocols were applied for the first time on April 24 when officers responded to a large party at which over two dozen young teenagers were drinking and/or in the presence of alcohol.  Parents or guardians of all teens were contacted and the adults at home during the party were charged.

• Two Chapel Hill officers have been granted enforcement authority by the Orange County ABC Commission, allowing those officers to enforce rules and regulations pertaining to licensed establishments, rules that were previously enforceable only by state Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) Officers.  These two officers conduct regular compliance checks on licensed establishments.

• Thirty-four arrests for underage possession of alcohol have been made in the past six months.  Eight of the persons charged were under 19 years old.

• A Chapel Hill police sergeant has been assigned as a liaison to the Committee for Alcohol and Drug Free Teens to ensure effective communications between the Committee and the Police Department.

• At the urging of the Committee, the Council has expressed its support for the registration of beer kegs and for increased funding for treatment facilities in Orange County.

SUMMARY

We believe that our next update in the fall will demonstrate continued progress in our efforts to minimize the negative impact of alcohol on the teenagers of the community.

ATTACHMENT

1. December 6, 2004 Council Reports Item #7a, and #7b (p. 3).