Chapter 9.24 — ILLEGAL OR UNRULY PRIVATE PARTIES

In this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:

"Loud or unruly gathering" means a party or gathering of two or more persons where loud or unruly conduct occurs and alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis are in the possession of, or are being consumed by, any person under twenty-one (21) years of age. Such a loud or unruly gathering is a nuisance. Provided, however, that this definition does not include conduct involving the legal use of alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis (e.g., for legal medical purposes or as protected by Article 1, Section 4 of the California Constitution). "Person responsible" means the person who owns, rents, leases or otherwise has control of the premises where the party takes place. If the person responsible is under eighteen (18) years of age, then the parent or guardian of that person is jointly and severally liable for the cost incurred for police services. "Police services" means the law enforcement and crime prevention services provided by the City Police Department and includes the personnel and equipment costs for a police officer for the amount of time actually spent in responding to or in remaining at the party, the cost of medical treatment for any personnel injured during the response, and the actual cost of repairing city equipment or property which is damaged in the course of providing police services. (Ord. No. 18-08, § 1, 5-14-18; Ord. 07-08 § 2: prior code § 6-501)

A. No person may permit or host a loud or unruly gathering when that persons knows, or reasonably should know, that a person under twenty-one (21) years of age illegally possesses or consumes alcohol and/or cannabis at the gathering. It is the duty of any person who hosts or permits a gathering to take all reasonable steps to prevent such consumption of alcohol and/or cannabis by any person under twenty-one (21) years of age. B. A violation of subsection A of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment for a period of not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. No. 18-08, § 1, 5-14-18; Ord. 07-08 § 3: prior code § 6-502)

The person responsible for a loud or unruly gathering is liable for the cost of police services provided by the city, as defined in Section 9.24.010. Provided, however, that no cost shall be recovered under this section if those present at the loud or unruly gathering call for emergency services for an actual emergency. (Ord. 07-08 § 4: prior code § 6-503)

The cost of the police services incurred under Section 9.24.030 is a debt owed to the city by the person responsible. The city may bring an action for collection of the debt. The debt bears interest at the rate of

ten percent a year. Interest accrues form the due date stated on the billing. (Ord. 07-08 § 5)

The misdemeanor penalty and recovery of the cost of police services authorized under this chapter do not preclude any other potential civil or criminal actions by the city under any other provision of law, including but not limited to, Penal Code Section 272 and Business and Professions Code Sections 25658, 25658.2 and 25662. (Ord. 07-08 § 6)