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Ms Ayala recalled a previous discussion stemming from the Healthy Kids Survey <br />and questions from the PUSD board members asking if the City could do anything about <br />underage drinking. She remembered a discussion of a parent group that would be <br />activated where they actually would go on the police calls with the officers and see for <br />themselves the situations with underage drinking. She felt the program was a wonderful <br />idea because it would get the parents involved, this is where the responsibility lies. What <br />happened to that program? <br /> <br /> Chief Neal said she was correct that this was the initial idea. The concept, <br />however, was altered. There was some talk with coming up with the Safe Rides Home <br />alternative. That, at best, received mixed support because of the mixed message that it <br />sends to students. Certainly as to the student that rides to a party where the driver gets <br />intoxicated, all of us want to make sure all get a safe rides home. But to send a signal <br />that tells a student that it is okay to drink because we will find someone to give you a ride <br />home safely with anonymity sends the wrong message. Accordingly, the parental <br />involvement part of this went away. What did get life was an initiation in the police <br />department of a Teen Alcohol Suppression Detail, which we deployed dozens of times in <br />approximately the last 18 month, especially in the summer. This ordinance does in <br />essence accomplish the same thing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brozosky asked Chief Neal what is done when the department gets a call that <br />there is a party taking place with teens' drinking. Does the department go into the house <br />and disperse the students and call their parents? What does happen? <br /> <br /> ChiefNeal said the police officers almost always go into the house because there <br />is probable cause. There is probable cause because if an adult is present there are statutes <br />that are applicable regarding contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Commonly <br />there are noise calls initially. It is pretty much up to what the officer observes when the <br />officer gets to the front door. It is not uncommon to get a call from the person <br />conducting the party who has lost control of the party. It is also not uncommon to have <br />thefts occur as a result of a teen party. It is not uncommon for instances of sexual assault <br />to occur. Commonly the police do enter the home simply to determine who the party <br />host is and to determine the resident of the home is at the house. The police officers take <br />enforcement to the degree they can, but under the current ordinance they can only cite the <br />party host serving those less than 21 years old. They cannot cite those who are under 21 <br />for possession, consumption, or being under the influence of alcohol inside of the home. <br /> <br />Mr. Brozosky asked if the department could call a student's parents? <br /> <br /> Chief Neal said the police officers technically do not have the legal authority to <br />force persons inside a home to identify themselves nor to call their parents. In an <br />extreme case where someone is so intoxicated they cannot care for themselves. The <br />officers have the authority to commit them to an emergency room. Generally speaking, <br />unless minors are outside the private dwelling, the police officers have no legal authority <br />to detain them, request their identification or notify the parents. <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 11 04/01/03 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />