SR ACT & SRPD: DUI Strike Team and Minor Decoy Operation Update

Summer is the kick-off of BBQs, pool parties, and graduation celebrations! San Rafael Alcohol Compliance Team (SR ACT) of the San Rafael Police Department (SRPD) is committed to enforce underage drinking through different activities. These enforcement activities will continue to ensure our community stays healthy!

SR ACT is enforcing underage drinking! In mid-June, SR ACT was alerted to a carload of six young people at the Mall at Northgate engaged in marijuana and alcohol use. One teenage female was cited for minor in possession of alcohol and possession of marijuana. She said she got both alcohol and marijuana from her mother in order to celebrate the beginning of summer. The mother is pending a citation for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. It is important for parents to help their children reach their full potential by not being an access point to alcohol and other drugs.

Allowing teens to engage in alcohol and marijuana use is unacceptable. Substances such as alcohol and marijuana impact the development of the teen brain. Parents need to set clear rules and expectations about no underage drinking and drug use. Boundaries are the rules and expectations that define what parents expect their children to do or not to do. Unclear rules and expectations leave kids vulnerable to underage drinking and making other decisions which may lead to negative consequences. SR ACT and other community coalitions want parents to feel empowered to start the conversation about underage drinking and set the expectations sooner rather than later.

SR ACT is enforcing the Social Host Ordinance! Hotels were informed about youth parties in hotels room and the dangers associated with that activity and the laws about renting a room to minors and their responsibility to call the police.

Learn more about the San Rafael Social Host Ordinance
English - http://www.scribd.com/doc/180037937/FINAL-ACT-palm-card-pdf
Spanish - http://www.scribd.com/doc/189075792/ACT-Palm-Card-en-Espanol-in-Spanish

SRPD is enforcing DUIs! On June 20th a DUI checkpoint was enforced. Four field sobriety tests were administered, resulting in two arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol. One driver was contacted that had an outstanding warrant from Sam Mateo County for a prior drunk driving arrest. Two other drivers with suspended licenses were also arrested. Additional results from the operation were; sixteen unlicensed drivers were contacted, cited, and released. Four traffic violations were issued. Four vehicles were towed. This kick off operation is part of the on-going traffic safety effort over the summer.  Checkpoints, strike teams and other DUI/DL directed enforcement activities will take place throughout the summer to promote public safety. The operation was funded by a DUI / Driver’s License Safe Grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.            

SRPD & SR ACT is enforcing selling responsibly! SR ACT did bar compliance checks of various establishments in the downtown San Rafael corridor. One establishment was cited for “over serving” to a customer who was already severely intoxicated. In addition there is one pending report to Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) for bartenders allowing juveniles to drink in the aforementioned bar.

Establishments in San Rafael were visited by a Minor Decoy. Only 2 stores sold to the Minor Decoy. Citations were given, and store owners were notified of the violation. Cited businesses are required to attend a Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training, to better prepare their employees to sell responsibly. This June operation was funded by the ABC grant.

While Minor Decoy Operations demonstrate that our merchants are making smart choices by not selling alcohol to minors, we know that the primary source of underage drinking in Marin occurs through house parties. San Rafael ACT urges the public to be vigilant in reporting underage drinking parties. To confidentially report underage drinking parties in San Rafael, call the SRPD’s non-emergency phone line at: (415)485-3000. If underage youth are drinking on your property, you could be fined up to $700, with a possible addition of recovery fees through the Social Host Ordinance. 

The San Rafael Alcohol Compliance Team (ACT) has been created through a partnership with the San Rafael Police Department (SRPD) and the Marin County Department of Health & Human Services to reduce underage and excessive drinking in youth ages 12 – 25.  San Rafael ACT has implemented effective enforcement activities to change the conditions in our community that can promote health and decrease the problems associated with excessive drinking. Examples of these are party patrols, DUI patrols and compliance checks at bars, restaurants, and special events.  These activities continue to ensure that the business community and residents follow laws which have been put in place to protect the health and safety of our community.

San Rafael ACT, community coalitions, and the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services know we have more work to do when it comes to the fight against youth access to alcohol in Marin. It is important to remember we’re in this together. By working together, we can make healthy changes happen at home, at work, at school, and in our neighborhoods.

Be sure to check out these links for more information and resources to stay safe and informed:

The Healthy Novato Project
The Mill Valley Healthy Living Community Coalition
The Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth
The Ross Valley Coalition
The San Rafael Alcohol and Drug Coalition
The San Rafael Alcohol Compliance Team
The Twin Cities Coalition for Healthy Youth
The Youth Leadership Institute
The West Marin Community Coalition

You can learn more about what we are doing and how you can get involved by contacting Kristen Law at the Marin County Prevention Hub.

The San Rafael Alcohol Compliance Team (ACT) has been created through a partnership with the San Rafael Police Department and the Marin County Department of Health & Human Services to reduce underage and excessive drinking in youth ages 12 – 25.