City OKs New Rules On Parties

Party hosts in Berkeley will now be legally responsible for underage drinking at their events unless there is a last-minute reversal of a Tueday vote by the Berkeley City Council.

Students from the Interfraternity Council, ASUC and other campus groups reiterated protests that the changes were unnecessary and would affect students’ consideration of whether to call the police during emergencies.

“The decision to contact the police usually comes at the moment of greatest chaos,” said Igor Tregub, a student activist and former ASUC senator.

But the council, after being told the criminal penalties under the new ordinance were legally equivalent to a “parking ticket,” voted 8-1 to pass the changes. Councilmember Kriss Worthington cast the lone vote against.

“We’re kind of breaking new ground here, we haven’t done this before,” said Councilmember Linda Maio. “If it’s really onerous and it’s not working, we’re going to hear about it.”

The revised ordinances will also lengthen the probationary period for houses given warnings for unruly parties from 60 to 120 days. Additional violations during that time will incur another 120-day probationary period.

Fines for second responses to unruly parties by the police will also increase under the changes, from $500 to $750 for the first violation, from $1,000 to $1,500 for the second and from $1,500 to $2,500 for the third.

Increased fines will pay for the burden of parties on police time, which on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights can require up to 50 percent of the night’s force, said Police Chief Doug Hambleton.

The ordinances will go through a finalizing vote at the next council meeting on March 27.

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