PADA hears reasons for alcohol ordinance

A representative from the Mercer County prosecutor's office, Angela Onofri, spoke yesterday to the Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance on why the Borough should adopt the state-approved alcohol ordinance. But PADA board members were quick to point out the ordinance's flaws.

Though it has been on the back burner for nearly a year, the ordinance — which would allow police to issue summons to underage drinkers on private property — is now on the agenda for the Borough Council's Dec. 3 meeting, Councilwoman Peggy Karcher said. She added that the council is unlikely to vote on the ordinance for at least a few months.

The prosecutor's office has been pushing the ordinance around the county. Nearby municipalities including Ewing, the home of The College of New Jersey, and Lawrence, the home of Rider University, have already enacted it.

Borough Mayor Marvin Reed has asked for input from PADA, a substance abuse education program. Government officials, University administrators and eating club representatives were at the meeting yesterday in Township Hall.

Onofri said it is a "terrible waste of police resources" when officers arrive on the scene of a loud party — whether held at Princeton High School students' homes or eating clubs — and cannot do anything to stop the intoxication.

"The police now have a tool to deal with the havoc that is being caused in the neighborhood," he said, referring to the unpassed ordinance.

But PADA board members were not easily convinced.

Members suggested that underage drinkers might be forced to choose between calling medical help for a friend — and possibly facing a summons — or protecting themselves.

Other members were concerned that the ordinance might unduly affect high school students if some ended up with a criminal record because of it.

Borough Police Chief Charles Davall dismissed the concern. Because the regulation would be an ordinance and not a criminal law, underage students cannot be technically "arrested" for a violation, he said at the meeting.

PADA members also asked about the specifics of when police officers could enter private property.

Onofri said officers would need a warrant to enter private property except under certain circumstances such as during a medical or fire emergency. Merely knowing that an eating club is on tap would not constitute probable cause.

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Karcher said she thinks everyone in the Borough Council is looking for more information on the ordinance, and PADA is playing an important role in collecting the information.

"As you can see," she said after the meeting, "there is a lot of misinformation."

Further discussion with all of the groups involved, including the University, is needed, she said.

The Township has not yet officially considered the ordinance, Township Committeewoman Casey Hegemer said.

Hegemer added that she would not want to see an ordinance enacted that "opens a loophole" for government officials to potentially abuse.

Gary DeBlasio, a PADA leader, said he wants prevention, education and treatment to remain a part of the discussion. He said it is unclear so far how those elements would play out in the ordinance.