💾 Archived View for spam.works › mirrors › textfiles › law › mar90_3.law captured on 2023-06-16 at 19:00:07.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
March 1990
POLICE PRACTICES:
OPERATION ALERT
By
Captain Mark Willingham
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
and
Chief Jerry Cameron
Fernandina Beach, Florida, Police Department
Graduation night, prom night, spring vacation--these are
special times for high school students. But how often have the
media carried accounts of tragic accidents that resulted because
of intoxification of minors during these special times?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is simply ``too
many.''
In Fernandina Beach, FL, the police department and the
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco have combined
education, public relations, and law enforcement into a cohesive
effort to stop underage drinking. OPERATION ALERT (Alcohol--Law
Enforcement/Retail Training) is a multi-faceted program that
combines retail vendor training, student and parent awareness,
and law enforcement action to reduce alcohol consumption by
persons under 21 years of age. The program is divided into four
phases.
In phase 1, a letter cosigned by the chief of police and the
district commander for the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and
Tobacco is sent to retail licensees each spring. The letter
reminds vendors of the upcoming vacation season and
end-of-school-year activities. It asks for their help to control
the sale of alcoholic beverages to underage persons and reminds
them of the importance of checking identifications closely for
forged or altered IDs. The letter also notes that the laws
governing the sale of alcoholic beverages will be strictly
enforced and that arrests and administrative charges will be made
for those who fail to comply.
Phase 2 is a joint training session offered to all
retailers and their employees. The topics covered include
identifying fake IDs, the liability to retailers for selling to
minors, and issues involving theft reduction and robbery
protection.
In phase 3, all graduating seniors and their parents
receive a letter reminding them not to let the celebration of
graduation turn into a tragedy through alcohol consumption. The
letter reminds the parents of the new house party law in Florida
and the penalties involved. The house party law, which went into
effect in October 1988, makes it a 2nd degree misdemeanor for an
adult to use a residence as the place where alcohol and illegal
drugs are made available and consumed by persons under 21 years
of age. The misdemeanor carries a fine of $500 and/or 60 days in
jail.
Phase 4 consists of a concerted law enforcement effort.
Throughout the year, but especially during the spring and summer
months, directed patrols are used to reduce the availability and
consumption of alcoholic beverages. Underage volunteers, usually
17- to 18-year olds who have parental consent, are used to
attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages from vendors who are the
object of complaints from parents and school administrators. To
witness the transaction and as a safety measure, a law
enforcement officer, acting as a customer, is always in the
establishment while the teen attempts to make a purchase.
Employees who sell to minors are arrested on the spot by the
officer, and the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco then
initiates administrative action against the retailer's beverage
license.
Special attention is also directed to prom night and
graduation night. The location of parties and events are
identified in advance, and intensified training is offered to
employees at these locations. Substance-free parties are hosted
by civic groups. In addition, high-profile law enforcement
activities are scheduled which include visiting licensed
retailers and places where students congregate.
The law enforcement problems created by celebrations and
activities involving the unlawful consumption of alcoholic
beverages are numerous, and often times deadly. However,
OPERATION ALERT has been useful in attacking these problems. To
date, no teenage fatalities due to intoxification have occurred
in Fernandina Beach since the program began in 1985.
______________
POLICE PRACTICES serves as an information source for unique
or noteworthy methods, techniques, or operations of law
enforcement agencies. Submissions should be no more than 750
words (3 pages, double spaced and typed) and should be directed
to Kathy Sulewski, Managing Editor, FBI LAW ENFORCEMENT
BULLETIN, Room 7262, 10th & Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington,
DC 20535.