CAMARILLO POLICE
DEPARTMENT

MEDIA RELEASE

Nature of Incident: Social Host Ordinance

Location: City of Camarillo

Date & Time: 6/01/11

Unit Responsible: Community Resource Unit

Narrative:

With the graduation season upon us and with summer on the horizon, the Camarillo Police Department would like to remind residents to celebrate responsibly. The Camarillo Police Department actively enforces the city’s Social Host Ordinance in an effort to prevent underage drinking of alcoholic beverages and loud and unruly gatherings. The Camarillo Police Department would like to take this opportunity to remind residents what the Social Host Ordinance entails.

Camarillo Municipal Code section 10.32.040 makes it unlawful for any responsible person to conduct, aid, allow, permit, or condone a loud or unruly gathering at a residence or other private property. Under the city ordinance, it is not necessary that minors or underage persons be present or that alcohol be a contributing factor.

A loud and unruly gathering is defined as: Two or more persons at or on a residence or other private property upon which loud or unruly conduct occurs. It includes, but is not limited to: excessive noise or traffic, obstructions of or crowds on public streets, public drunkenness of unlawful consumption (including consumption by minors), fights or disturbances of the peace, vandalism, littering, or any other conduct constituting a threat to public health, safety, or quiet enjoyment of residential property.

Penalties for a violation of the ordinance are as follows:

• First violation is punishable by a 500.00 dollar fine
• A second violation at the same residence or other private property, or by the same responsible person, within a 12 month period is punishable by a 1000.00 dollar fine.
• A third or subsequent violation of this section at the same residence or other private property, or by the same responsible person, within a 12 month period is punishable by a fine of 2500.00 dollars.

In addition, the unincorporated areas of Ventura County have a similar Social Host ordinance, Ventura County Code 6113-4, which makes it a civil violation for any responsible person to conduct or allow a loud or unruly gathering at a residence or other private property at which service to, or consumption of alcohol or alcoholic beverages by, underage persons occurs. A violation of this code is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

For questions regarding the Social Host ordinance, please contact the Crime Prevention Officer at 805-388-5130.

Officer Preparing Release: Senior Deputy W. Sean Britt #3572

Follow-up Contact: Senior Deputy W. Sean Britt #3572

Date of Release: 6/01/11

Approved By: Bruce Macedo, Captain

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