Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code Ch. 9.24 Law Enforcement Expenses Caused by Unruly Parties and Gatherings

The city council finds that unruly parties, gatherings, or other assemblages of persons on private property and other gathering places on private property with the city, can disturb the public peace, safety and welfare so as to require law enforcement services over and above those normally provided. It is the best interests of the public safety and welfare for those persons causing the need for law enforcement services beyond those normally provided to the public at large to be required to pay all or a part of such extraordinary law enforcement expenses.

(Code 1981, § 9.24.010; Ord. No. 258, § 1(part), 1990)

When a party, gathering or other assemblage of persons occurs on private property and is determined by a sheriff's deputy at the scene to constitute a violation of the Penal Code or is otherwise disturbing the public peace, health, safety or welfare, due to the magnitude of the crowd, noise, disturbance or unruly behavior generated by the gathering, or by excessive traffic or property damage caused by the gathering, then the deputy shall take such actions and give such direction as is necessary to abate the violation or condition and shall advise the responsible party orally and in writing that if the violation or condition is not immediately abated, the responsible party and/or property owner shall be held responsible for the cost of providing any additional law enforcement services beyond the initial response as provided in this chapter. Such direction shall be given to the person responsible for the party, gathering or other assemblage of persons or on whose property it is located. If the violation or condition is not voluntarily abated or if it otherwise becomes necessary to call in additional sheriff's personnel or take additional action in order to terminate the gathering, quell any disturbance, direct traffic, cite illegally parked vehicles or otherwise respond to the situation, then the cost of such additional law enforcement services beyond the initial response shall be reimbursed to the city as provided in section 9.24.030.

(Code 1981, § 9.24.020; Ord. No. 258, § 1(part), 1990)

A. The person responsible for a party, gathering or other assemblage of persons described in section 9.24.020 or on whose property the gathering is held, or if such person is a minor then the parents or legal guardians of the minor, shall be jointly and severally liable for the following costs attributable to the event, or, if lower, the amount established by resolution of the city council:

1. The actual cost to the city of law enforcement services beyond the initial response by a sheriff's deputy necessary to abate the violations or conditions described in section 9.24.020;

2. Damage to public property resulting from such law enforcement response; and

3. Injuries to law enforcement personnel incurred in such law enforcement response.

B. The sheriff's department shall compute the cost of providing such services in accordance with the schedule of rates and charges for personnel and equipment contained in the law enforcement services agreement with the city and advise the city manager of such costs, as well as any other costs of damage to public property or injuries to personnel resulting from the law enforcement response. The person responsible for the party, gathering or other assemblage or on whose property the party, gathering or other assemblage takes place shall be billed for these costs by the city manager upon notice of the charges from the sheriff and payment shall be due and payable within 15 days of the billing date. Should the amount due not be paid, the city may collect the debt, as well as any costs incurred in collecting the debt due to nonpayment, pursuant to any available provision of law.

(Code 1981, § 9.24.030; Ord. No. 258, § 1(part), 1990)

The sheriff is authorized and directed to prepare appropriate advisory procedures to be followed by deputies responding to a party, gathering or other assemblage, including preparation of written materials advising the responsible person of the provisions of this chapter.

(Code 1981, § 9.24.040; Ord. No. 258, § 1(part), 1990)