The new state alcohol law aimed at shore towns is now being used to target college campuses, where officials say underage drinking has risen to dangerous levels.
"Go into some of these college towns, and you'll find lots of underage drinking," state senator Leonard Connors (R-Atlantic-Burlington-Ocean) said. "Colleges are notorious for it."
The law — which lets municipalities adopt measures that allow police to fine underage drinkers on private property — was crafted primarily for use on New Jersey's coast.
But now officials in some towns with colleges and universities are pushing for ordinances to curb the binge drinking and destructive behavior often associated with institutions of higher education.
Glassboro, a South Jersey suburb of Philadelphia and home to Rowan University, adopted an underage drinking ordinance Sept. 12 modeled on the state law.
Glassboro Police Chief Patricia Kunchyski said underage drinking by Rowan students was the main reason for the ordinance.
"We have off-campus frat houses and group homes, where underage drinking is a problem," she said.
Glassboro will enforce the ordinance with "party patrols," a group of two to six officers who respond to "party calls, noise complaints, drinking and fights" on "heavy party nights," according to Kunchyski.
Authorities in other college towns — such as New Brunswick, with Rutgers University, Lawrence, with Rider University and Ewing, with the College of New Jersey — are discussing the ordinance.
New Brunswick Police Director Michael Beltarnena said he has discussed the law with the city attorney, who is reviewing it before making his final recommendations to the city council.
Beltarnena said controlling Rutgers parties was the primary motive behind his consideration of the law.
"We have a significant problem with underage drinking at house parties off-campus but with Rutgers students," he said.
Lawrence Police Chief John Prettyman is considering requesting an ordinance, according to his nephew, Lt. Joseph Prettyman.
At last Tuesday's Ewing Township council meeting, residents spoke out supporting the council's consideration of the ordinance.
Other towns
In South Orange with Seton Hall University, Gallaway Township with Stockton College, Madison with Drew University, and Florham Park with Fairleigh Dickinson University, police officials said they did not have major problems in the past with underage drinking by college students.
Seton Hall, Drew and FDU do not have off-campus housing while Stockton has a separate police department that enforces the college's rules.
The police in Avalon, which enacted an ordinance in July to combat drinking at summer beach houses, have already cited 10 underage drinkers in five separate incidents, according to Lt. Edward Dean.
Since passing the ordinance, the Avalon police have placed restrictions on when they can enter private property because of underage drinking.
"We don't go looking for it," Dean said. "Technically we can, but I don't want my guys doing it."
But Dean said since the first ordinance, the number of incidents of vandalism, mischief, fights and disorderly conduct is down.
Township discussions
Closer to the University, Princeton Township — which includes parts of Forbes College and the Graduate College — opened discussions of the law at its Sept. 11 Township Committee meeting.
However, two of the five committee members raised questions about privacy. The committee now is soliciting opinions of local groups.
Township Deputy Mayor Steve Frakt, who is also a lecturer at the Wilson School, said the Township and Borough tend to work together in most issues.
"We work in tangent and generally keep abreast about what the other town is doing," he said.
The Princeton Township Committee will meet again Oct. 16 while Princeton Borough Council will meet Oct. 13 to review passage of an ordinance.
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