Host rule on parties near OK in Ceres

From the Modesto Bee. CERES — An ordinance that would allow police officers to fine and possibly prosecute adults who knowingly host parties where alcohol is made available to minors is on its way to approval.

The City Council held its first reading of the policy Tuesday night, asking questions of city staff and hearing comment from three community members who urged unanimous approval of the ordinance.

The council's vote was indeed unanimous. The ordinance now needs one more vote of approval before it can be adopted. That is possible in June.

Under the proposed ordinance, if an adult knowingly supplies alcohol to minors at a party, the city can levy fines and charge the adult for the cost of responding to the party.

Fines would be $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second and $1,500 for the third offense, according to the draft, which closely mirrors one passed by Modesto in March.

Police Cmdr. Mike Borges said the real effectiveness in the policy lies in allowing officers to break up a party on private property.

City Attorney Michael Lyions said he drafted the proposal after recent underage drinking events garnered national and local exposure, and even led to tragedy.

Ceres police respond to about 30 party calls per month, and the numbers climb to 40 each month during the summer and holidays, according to officers.

If approved, it would take effect within 30 days.

Community groups are pushing similar "social host" ordinances in Patterson, Turlock and at the Stanislaus County level.

Anti-teen drinking effort grows

From the Modesto Bee.

Modesto took the lead, Waterford followed and now a third city, Ceres, is considering taking action to curb teen drinking parties. The Ceres council will vote on the proposal today, which means it could take effect later this summer. That will be too late to affect graduation and Graffiti parties, but underage drinking parties have become a year-round concern. Waterford passed the ordinance earlier this month, making it effective June 16. So far, the approach is the same — penalties of $500 for the first offense by adults who host parties at which teens are allowed to drink. Family gatherings are excluded. Eventually, we hope all nine cities and Stanislaus County will adopt the same ordinance. Consistency will make it fair and will send a unified message against underage drinking and the irresponsible adults — some parents, some older siblings and friends — who allow it.

San Diego CrystalMess

'Drug Store' a taste of deadly reality for kids

From the Modesto Bee. HUGHSON — Detention had nothing on Lucas Fisher's day at school.

The eighth-grader at Ross Middle School spent 15 minutes Tuesday polishing the shoes of his trash-talking cellmate in a simulated juvenile hall cell on his school's lawn.

"I was feeling really scared," Lucas said after bolting from the cell. "I thought I was going to be here the whole day."

Stanislaus County sheriff's deputy Bret Silveira fixed a deadly stare on Lucas' classmates as he gave them a small taste of what they could expect behind bars.

"This is my house and these are my rules," Silveira barked at the students, a pair of stained, jail-issued underwear hanging from the bars. "Punks like you are gonna take care of me forever."

..."She started crying, I started crying. As soon as they put the handcuffs on her I just couldn't handle it."

Read the the complete story here.

Underage drinking, marijuana targeted in Waterford

From the Modesto Bee. The City Council is poised to push adult-aided underage drinking and medicinal marijuana out of town.

At a meeting Thursday night, council members accepted an ordinance putting in place a fine of up to $1,500 for adults who let minors drink at private parties.

"I think we have to create a safe environment for our children in this community. You want carrots and sticks, and this is a stick," said Mayor William Broderick-Villa.

Adults guilty of allowing minors to drink at parties will pay $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second and $1,500 for the third if the infractions fall within a 12-month period.

The point is to encourage adults to supervise minors who may be drinking, and deter adults from tolerating or encouraging it, City Attorney Corbett Browning said in a report to council members.

Inspired by the death of his sister following a party nearly 25 years ago during which adults provided the alcohol, community activist Robert Stanford of Modesto has been urging cities to pass similar ordinances.

"I just wish it had more teeth and no clock," he told council members.

The ordinance will come back to the council for approval May 17. If adopted, it will take effect June 16.

At the May 17 meeting, council members also will consider an ordinance prohibiting medicinal marijuana dispensaries.

Modesto, Ceres and Patterson have banned them, and most cities in the county have moratoriums on dispensaries.

Council members were supposed to hear the ordinance Thursday, but Browning asked them to hold off so he could broaden its language.

Even without the ordinance, medical marijuana dispensaries are temporarily banned in Waterford. The temporary ban expires in July.

While people occasionally call the city asking about how to open a dispensary, no one has tried to do so, City Administrator Charles Deschenes said during an interview in March.

Driven out of No. 1

From the Modesto Bee. Finally, some progress. For the first time in three years, Stanislaus County is not the car theft capital of the country, according to statistics released today by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

The Modesto area — encompassing all of Stanislaus County — dropped to No. 5 with 1,006 thefts per 100,000 residents.

NICB spokesman Frank Scafidi applauded the Modesto area's "dramatic improvement," adding that local efforts should set an example for neighboring communities struggling with high theft rates.

Despite the drop, not all local law enforcement officials are pleased.

"Nobody should breathe a sigh of relief," Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden said. "We're still way too high. I'm happy we're not No. 1, but with all that effort and a 32percent reduction in the city, I wanted to be out of the top 10."

Officials also promised to target what they believe is the underlying cause of auto theft: methamphetamine abuse.

"Given the meth epidemic we have here, I'm not surprised we're still in the top 10," Sheriff Adam Christianson said. "In every property crime we investigate, there's always a meth element."

Wasden agreed, noting that even as auto theft rates continue to drop, other crimes, such as recyclable metal thefts, soar.

"It's like you squeeze the balloon here, and it expands over there," Wasden said. "We must deal with (methamphetamine) addiction. Ultimately, if we get people into treatment and get them drug free, that will affect property crime."