Underage Drinking Ordinance

Tuesday April 2nd 2007 at the Ridgewood Public Library - Residents, Parents, School Administrators and local Police officers were present to discuss the issue of underage drinking on private property throughout the village. A lot of opinions were expressed during the emotional question and answer session hosted by Sheila Brogan, mostly directed towards Captain Keith Killion.

The proposal is a request to the village council to introduce and pass an ordinance that allows the Ridgewood Police to enter your property if they suspect underage children are drinking on the property without their parents present. It would also give officers that option to cite these local minors with a summons violating the village ordinance and a fine of $250 for the first offense and $350 for each additional offense as is currently enforced in surrounding towns such as Fair Lawn who was the most recent borough to pass a similar ordinance.

Much concern was addressed regarding the future consequences of violating this ordinance and the effect on their children's "Permanent Record" and its effects on their college and career applications. It was clearly stated that violation of this ordinance is not a criminal offense, not a misdemeanor, simply a violation of a local village ordinance similar to a littering ticket. It would also provide the judge - during the mandatory court appearance - with the option to postpone or revoke the minor's driving privileges for 6 months.

Overall there were a lot of complaints about some parents choices to allow their kids to drink underage at parties with other students and a request was made specifically from one mother to the other parents that "If you see my kids, please don't let them drink."

This ordinance is proposed to provide stricter village laws to attempt to reduce the likelihood that local teenagers will drink underage. It is still very much against the law to drink, possess, or have consumed alcoholic beverages on public property and ANYONE found responsible for providing alcohol to a minor will be charged for violating current laws.