An ordinance allowing police to cite private property owners for underage drinking — similar to the Princeton Borough's proposed alcohol ordinance — is set to come before the West Windsor Township Council.
The goal is to stop high school students from drinking alcohol when their parents are gone, said Jackie Alberts, vice president of the West Windsor council.
"Basically they're trying to solve the problem of the empty house party," she said.
Princeton Borough Mayor Marvin Reed said the Borough Council here is not influenced by the decisions of nearby towns, including decisions on similar alcohol ordinances.
"We've been watching Princeton," he said.
West Windsor Township's police chief and a representative of the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office presented the case for an ordinance at a meeting Tuesday.
In November 2002, the Prosecutor's Office pushed the Princeton Borough's proposed alcohol ordinance at a meeting of the town's Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance. PADA members were skeptical of the ordinance's benefits.
Alberts said the ordinance might provide a more reasonable solution for preventing underage drinking in West Windsor.
"Right now, [the police's] options are to either go to the party and ask if there is a noise complaint, or basically look and catch people for DWI," Alberts said.
The proposed ordinance in West Windsor would fine residents $250 on the first offense and $350 for the second. The fine would come in the form of a citation, not a criminal charge, Alberts said.
"It's a carrot and a stick ordinance. There's no permanent arrest record," she said.
Alberts said the concern was raised that the ordinance would discourage underage drinkers from calling for medical help when necessary — a concern also raised in the Borough Council about its proposed ordinance.
However, Alberts said she thinks West Windsor's youth are smart enough to make the right decision in such circumstances.
Reed said the Borough Council will be reviewing its alcohol ordinance — whose consideration was suspended at a meeting during the spring — in mid-December.
During the last several years support has been marginal for the Borough Council's alcohol ordinance.
The ordinance would allow police officers to cite underage individuals for drinking on private property. Unlike drinking on public property and serving alcohol to the underaged, drinking on private property is not currently punishable under the law.
Ewing and Lawrence townships have adopted similar ordinances aimed at curtailing The College of New Jersey and Rider University students' drinking.
A state law passed in June 2000 granted municipalities the authority to enact such ordinances.
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