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RINGWOOD - Police aggressively prosecuting underage drinkers
(by Teresa Edmond - Staff Writer - September 17, 2008)
RINGWOOD - In the wake of charging 82 people with underage possession and drinking of alcohol on private property this past summer, the police are reminding the borough that it will adamantly uphold a zero tolerance policy on youth alcohol violations.
The 82 charged with the alcohol violation is a huge surge from the summer 2007 season, which saw only about 15 people charged, according to Police Chief Bernard Lombardo.
Lombardo said that the Police Department has been and will continue to enforce the zero tolerance policy.
“This year, we took a very aggressive approach,” he said. “We have zero tolerance, and it was understood among patrol division, and that anyone caught would get a summons.”
The possession and consumption of alcohol on private property this summer was discovered at many summer and graduation parties, according to a borough police statement.
“Part of the reason (for the number jump) is the size of the parties seemed to be bigger this year,” Chief Lombardo said in a phone interview. “I think there was a lax attitude about it, and I think they understand that it won’t be tolerated.”
In addition to the 82 charged, two people were charged under the state law against making alcoholic beverages available to underage persons. Another six individuals were also charged under state law with underage possession of alcohol in public.
The municipality’s ordinance prohibiting underage possession and consumption of alcohol closes a loophole in the state law, according to the Police Department’s statement. This drinking ordinance was created in compliance with the state law and has been in place for three years.
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