15-Year-Old Girl Cited For San Anselmo House Party: Police

SAN ANSELMO, CA – A 15-year-old San Anselmo girl was cited for an alleged violation of the town’s social host ordinance over the weekend, according to police.

The alleged violation was discovered at 10:30 p.m. Friday when officers with the Central Marin Police Authority located a "loud party" in the unit block of Durham Road in San Anselmo, CMPA Spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said in a news release.

"While at the front door of the house they could see two juveniles in the living room and both exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol," Rohrbacher said. "The 15 year-old hostess met the officers at the door and said that her parents were out and she was celebrating her birthday."

After the girl gave the officers permission to enter the home, they found another 15 or so teenagers in the backyard, along with several cases of beer, according to the spokeswoman.

The teens were reportedly cooperative, giving their parents' phone numbers to officers so that safe transportation home could be arranged for them.

The parents of the hostess were also were contacted, and returned home immediately, Rohrbacher said.

The girl reportedly told officers the alcohol was provided by her guests, not her parents.

Therefore, police said, she was issued an administrative citation for alleged violation of section 19.01.03 of San Anselmo’s Social Host Accountability Ordinance, which states:

"According to Except as permitted by Article 1, Section 4, of the California Constitution, no person shall suffer, permit, allow, or host a loud or unruly party, gathering, or event at his or her place of residence or other private property, place, or premises under his or her control where two (2) or more minors are present and alcoholic beverages are in the possession of, or being consumed by, one (1) or more minors. This section shall not apply to a parent or legal guardian who provides an alcoholic beverage at a family gathering to a minor under the parent or legal guardian's care. Any violation of this section shall be deemed a public nuisance."

The first violation of the ordinance is subject to a $750 penalty fine. If a person is found to have violated the ordinance again within a 12-month period, the fine increases to $850 for the second offense and $1,000 for the third and any subsequent offenses.

"The Central Marin Police Authority has zero tolerance for underage drinking and the use of illegal drugs," Rohrbacher said.

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