Police Commissioner Ernest J. Cipullo of the Garden City Police Department would like to remind parents as the end of the school year approaches and teenagers celebrate with proms, parties, and other social gatherings, we must review our efforts to emphasize alcohol free activities for the youth of our community. Commissioner Cipullo states "Purchasing or possessing alcoholic beverages by anyone under age 21 is illegal and consuming them may result in serious consequences." This is especially important during prom and graduation events when students often rent houses and/or vehicles for parties that include alcohol use.

As parents in this community, we must realize that house parties hosted by teenagers without adult supervision allows the opportunity for underage drinking to occur. When these parties do take place, more times than not the neighbors (your neighbors) call the police due to the large number of teenagers that gather in and around the location of the event, and at times destroying property.

When the Police Department responds to calls such as this, we must ensure the safety of all participants (teenagers and juveniles) first. The Police Department must check the interior of the house if an adult is not present, or at the adult's request, to ensure the safety of your children and to ensure medical assistance is not needed by anyone at the event.

The Garden City Police Department has a program to assist parents in preventing underage drinking house parties. Under this program, parents or guardians can complete a Voluntary Consent Form which allows the police to enter their home when there is an apparent party involving underage alcohol use and/or drug use based on a reported complaint or an officer's observations. With this permission, the officers may enter the home even if the parents or guardians are not present. This program is particularly effective when parents go on vacation and teenagers remain at the residence. This form gives authority to police officers to remove unauthorized persons from the residence and to confiscate observed alcohol, drugs and contraband.

Helpful legal tips:

A person who owns, rents or is in control of a residence, may be guilty of violating the Nassau County Social Host Law when they allow the consumption of alcohol by a minor at the residence.

A person may be guilty of unlawfully dealing with a child when they give or sell any alcohol beverage to a person under the age of 21, other than his/her own children, even in your own home.

A person may be guilty of endangering the welfare of a child when being a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child less than 18, he fails or refuses to exercise reasonable diligence in the control of such child to prevent them from becoming an abused or neglected child.

A minor (under 21 years of age) is guilty of the New York State ABC Law for the possession of an alcoholic beverage.

Remember: Serving alcohol, or allowing alcohol to be consumed by a child less than age 21, other than your own child in your home or property is a criminal offense. Also, home owners must keep in mind, that civil liabilities for allowing underage consumption of alcohol can be much more serious and far more damaging than criminal offenses.

Garden City Police Department

349 Stewart Avenue Garden City, New York 11530

Date______________

ERNEST J. CIPULLO

Commissioner of Police

(516) (516) 742-9600

Fax (516) 742-3898

VOLUNTARY CONSENT TO ENTER A PRIVATE RESIDENCE

YOUTH COMPLAINT (ALCOHOL RELATED)

I,_______________________, residing at _________________________________, having been informed of my constitutional right not to have an entry made of my premise hereinafter mentioned without receipt by the Garden City Police Department of a complaint regarding said residence, and of my right to refuse consent to such an entry, do hereby authorize, members of the Garden City Police Department, Garden City, New York, to enter said premises which is located at,

_________________________________________________________

__________________________ to _____________________

Date Date

The Garden City Police Department is hereby authorized to:

1.) Escort any unauthorized persons from the premises.

2.) Confiscate any alcoholic beverage in plain view that is being consumed by said unauthorized persons.

3.) Confiscate any contraband (drugs, firearms, etc.) observed in plain view, pending further investigation.

This written permission is being given by me to the members of the Garden City Police Department voluntarily at my request.

I do hereby release the Garden City Police Department and its members from any liability in connection with Police action taken as a result of this voluntary consent.

____________________________

Signature

Witnesses:_______________________

_________________________________

_________________________________