Roseville Ordinance Holding Parents Responsible For Teen Alcohol Parties Passes First Test
ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — The first reading of an ordinance that would punish parents who allow teenage drinking in their homes passed in Roseville on Wednesday.
A similar social-host ordinance was approved earlier this year in the neighboring city of Rocklin.
Several teens spoke out in support of the ordinance at a Roseville City Council meeting.
"We all want our friends to be safe and it is our community, we are very much a part of it so it's great, it's great news," said Sahfa Aboudkhil.
City leaders voted 4-1 to give police more tools to stop parents who knowingly or reasonably should have known the drinking was happening.
Parents could face fines up to $500 for a first offense, and those fines would increase for repeat offenders.
City Councilwoman Pauline Roccucci had some concerns about the plan.
"I'm not one for making more rules in legislation than we already have," she said.
A similar ordinance adopted in Rocklin earlier this year is described as "very successful" by Sgt. Trent Jewell. Since it passed in April, his department hasn't handed out any citations.
"The community education aspect of the ordinance is working and, that's the purpose of it. We'd rather not cite anybody," he said.
