After months of discussion regarding liquor licensing and permitting, the Beach Alcohol Task Force is moving on to other alcohol-related issues affecting the beach communities. At the Monday, Feb. 26 meeting, the topic was house parties.
Councilmen and task force Chair Kevin Faulconer was not present at this month’s meeting due to a late-running City Council meeting.
Representatives from the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) gave a presentation on crime statistics for Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.
According to police statistics, aggravated assault and residential burglary have decreased over the past five years in the three communities. However, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are the top three areas for alcohol arrests, including DUI (driving under the influence) arrests, with Ocean Beach accounting for 6.3 percent of the total city alcohol arrests, Pacific Beach accounting for 15.13 percent and Mission Beach with 9.84 percent.
Lt. Brian Ahearn, from the police department’s Northern Division, went into detail about the city’s Community Assisted Party Program (CAPP) and how it can be used to quiet problem “party houses.”
Once a home is “CAPPed,” the tenants or homeowners who host frequent and disruptive parties can be fined the costs of enforcement and administrative fees.
In other words, nuisance houses will have to reimburse the police department for the cost of responding to noise complaints.
For a home to be CAPPed, one of the following must occur: an alcohol-related arrest is made resulting from a party call, a second police response to the same party within 24 hours, a second police response to the same residence within 31 days for a party-related call or a citizen recommendation supported by data is made.
If a resident calls with a CAPP recommendation, the police department will investigate the residence to see if party-related complaints have been repeatedly filed. If so, the property’s owner and resident are notified.
Officers are informed of the CAPP when responding to related calls so that they are prepared to have zero-tolerance enforcement for the residence.
“We’re reasonable people, we’re a very reasonable police department, and there’s a lot of negotiation when we get involved in a party or in a disturbance,” Ahearn said. “We don’t drop the hammer hard on folks unless it has to be done.”
The CAPP designation expires after one year, and it is attached to the property, not the tenant. A party or gathering is classified as five or more persons.
To report an address for CAPP consideration, call (858) 552-1717.
For a copy of Ahearn’s presentation, e-mail Allison Stanley at [email protected].
The next Beach Alcohol Task Force meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m., at the Santa Clara Rec Center, 1008 Santa Clara Place. The meeting will focus on alcohol on the beaches.
For information on previous meetings visit www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd2/news/taskforce.shtml. For more SDPD crime statistics visit www.sandiego.gov/police/stats/index.shtml.