La Mirada Municipal Code Ch. 9.98 Admission Charge and Loud or Unruly Parties

For purposes of this chapter, "Admission charge" means a tangible benefit, monetary or otherwise, which is expressly or impliedly required as a condition of admittance to a party. Customary courtesies and clearly noncommercial activity such as gifts by guests and voluntary sharing of expenses for meals shall not be considered to be an "admission charge." "Admission charge" shall not include donations for political, community service, charitable or religious purposes.

The term "party" or "parties" means three or more persons meeting together for social, recreational, or amusement purposes.

(Ord. 541 § 3 (part), 1999).

No person shall require, impliedly or expressly, any admission charge to any party conducted in a residential zone.

(Ord. 541 § 3 (part), 1999).

(a) When any loud (as defined in La Mirada Municipal Code Section 9.04.010) or unruly party occurs or is held, and it is determined that there is a disruption to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare, the person in charge of the premises and the person responsible for the party, or if either of those persons is a minor, then the parents or guardians of the minor, will be held jointly and severally liable for the cost of providing sheriff personnel for special security assignment over and above the law enforcement services normally provided by the city and the sheriff's department, and the same may be given a written warning containing notice of the provisions of this section.

Sheriff personnel utilized during a second response to the same location within seventeen days after a first warning is issued, to control the disturbance to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare, shall be deemed to be on special security assignment over and above the services normally provided. A party requiring such a second sheriff response is deemed to be a "nuisance party." Furthermore, those persons deemed liable for the cost of the special security assignment shall be deemed to have consented to such liability by failing to immediately take all steps necessary to avoid the need for the second sheriff response. The disturbance causing the second response shall be deemed to be a continuation of the disturbance causing the first response.

(b) The costs of such special security assignment may include costs of personnel, damages to city property, and injuries to city and sheriff personnel. The charges assessed will be the actual cost of service for controlling the disturbance and restoring the public peace, health, safety or general welfare at the location of the disturbance. Such charges shall be consistent with the current rate being charged to the city by the county of Los Angeles.

(c) In addition, charges for damage to public property shall be determined and set forth in an official written estimate from the Los Angeles County department of public works or the city environmental services department. The city reserves the right to elect any other legal remedies when deemed necessary.

(d) When a second sheriff's response to a party following issuance of a warning occurs, the sheriff's department shall provide the city with a copy of the first response warning issued at the disturbance and with all city-required information. This information shall include the number and type of sheriff personnel and units used, and time spent, to control the disturbance. The city will bill the responsible party or parties for costs of providing the special security assignment plus an additional twenty-five percent of said costs as costs of administration to process the bill and collect the charges. Failure to pay the charge, as billed by the city, shall be deemed a violation of this chapter. Such costs shall be deemed to be a personal debt of those liable for payment, and may be collected as a debt on a contract.

(Ord. 541 § 3 (part), 1999).

It is unlawful for any person to conduct or allow a party to be conducted in violation of Section 9.98.020 ("admission charge party"), or to conduct a nuisance party, as defined in Section 9.98.030, or allow a nuisance party to be conducted. In addition to any other penalties provided in this chapter, any person conducting an admission charge party or nuisance party, or allowing an admission charge or nuisance party to be conducted, on residential property under such person's ownership or control, or if such person is a minor, then the parents or guardians of that minor, shall be subject to the following administrative penalties which shall be administered as set forth in Chapter 1.08 of this code:

A. For a second admission charge or nuisance party conducted within any seventeen (17) consecutive day period, the administrative penalty shall be $100.

B. For a third admission charge or nuisance party conducted within any seventeen (17) consecutive day period, the administrative penalty shall be $200.

C. For a fourth or additional admission charge or nuisance party conducted within any seventeen (17) consecutive day period, the administrative penalty shall be $500. (Ord. 659 § 3, 2012).