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KROS NEWS
Social Host Law Considered
(Clinon) -- Clinton County Supervisors will consider approval of a law aimed at impacting underage drinking.
The Clinton County Board is considering a ‘social host’ ordinance that would impact all of the county including communities that don’t have an ordinance and that includes Clinton, Camanche, DeWitt and other communities.
The proposal is promoted by the Area Substance Abuse Council. Candace Seitz of the Substance Abuse Council says the idea is prohibit underage drinking on property where the person controlling the property is aware of the gathering. Under the proposal, the property could be charge if they were award of the gathering, whether they were present or not.
Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf says the ordinance is a preventative effort and allows property owners to work with law enforcement to allow officers to enter property if they ‘hear’ about a drinking party. He says if a person allows law enforcement officers to check their property the property owner would not be responsible. The County Attorney there is need for this, “but not used often.”
Wolf said the goal is have various groups working together to address underage drinking He says this shows the teens this is something that is “not a right of passage, this isn’t something we’re condoning”
A violation would be a misdemeanor with a fine from 65 dollars to 625 dollars and a potential jail period not to exceed 30 days.
The board will tentatively consider a first reading approval of the ordinance at their meeting January 21st and it would require approval at two other meetings.
Written 1/2/2013 by Dave Vickers - KROS News
