101 lines
5.5 KiB
Plaintext
101 lines
5.5 KiB
Plaintext
March 1990
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POLICE PRACTICES:
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OPERATION ALERT
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By
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Captain Mark Willingham
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Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
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and
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Chief Jerry Cameron
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Fernandina Beach, Florida, Police Department
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Graduation night, prom night, spring vacation--these are
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special times for high school students. But how often have the
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media carried accounts of tragic accidents that resulted because
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of intoxification of minors during these special times?
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Unfortunately, the answer to this question is simply ``too
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many.''
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In Fernandina Beach, FL, the police department and the
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Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco have combined
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education, public relations, and law enforcement into a cohesive
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effort to stop underage drinking. OPERATION ALERT (Alcohol--Law
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Enforcement/Retail Training) is a multi-faceted program that
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combines retail vendor training, student and parent awareness,
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and law enforcement action to reduce alcohol consumption by
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persons under 21 years of age. The program is divided into four
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phases.
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In phase 1, a letter cosigned by the chief of police and the
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district commander for the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and
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Tobacco is sent to retail licensees each spring. The letter
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reminds vendors of the upcoming vacation season and
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end-of-school-year activities. It asks for their help to control
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the sale of alcoholic beverages to underage persons and reminds
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them of the importance of checking identifications closely for
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forged or altered IDs. The letter also notes that the laws
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governing the sale of alcoholic beverages will be strictly
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enforced and that arrests and administrative charges will be made
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for those who fail to comply.
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Phase 2 is a joint training session offered to all
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retailers and their employees. The topics covered include
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identifying fake IDs, the liability to retailers for selling to
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minors, and issues involving theft reduction and robbery
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protection.
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In phase 3, all graduating seniors and their parents
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receive a letter reminding them not to let the celebration of
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graduation turn into a tragedy through alcohol consumption. The
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letter reminds the parents of the new house party law in Florida
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and the penalties involved. The house party law, which went into
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effect in October 1988, makes it a 2nd degree misdemeanor for an
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adult to use a residence as the place where alcohol and illegal
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drugs are made available and consumed by persons under 21 years
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of age. The misdemeanor carries a fine of $500 and/or 60 days in
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jail.
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Phase 4 consists of a concerted law enforcement effort.
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Throughout the year, but especially during the spring and summer
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months, directed patrols are used to reduce the availability and
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consumption of alcoholic beverages. Underage volunteers, usually
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17- to 18-year olds who have parental consent, are used to
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attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages from vendors who are the
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object of complaints from parents and school administrators. To
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witness the transaction and as a safety measure, a law
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enforcement officer, acting as a customer, is always in the
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establishment while the teen attempts to make a purchase.
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Employees who sell to minors are arrested on the spot by the
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officer, and the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco then
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initiates administrative action against the retailer's beverage
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license.
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Special attention is also directed to prom night and
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graduation night. The location of parties and events are
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identified in advance, and intensified training is offered to
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employees at these locations. Substance-free parties are hosted
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by civic groups. In addition, high-profile law enforcement
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activities are scheduled which include visiting licensed
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retailers and places where students congregate.
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The law enforcement problems created by celebrations and
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activities involving the unlawful consumption of alcoholic
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beverages are numerous, and often times deadly. However,
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OPERATION ALERT has been useful in attacking these problems. To
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date, no teenage fatalities due to intoxification have occurred
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in Fernandina Beach since the program began in 1985.
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______________
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POLICE PRACTICES serves as an information source for unique
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or noteworthy methods, techniques, or operations of law
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enforcement agencies. Submissions should be no more than 750
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words (3 pages, double spaced and typed) and should be directed
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to Kathy Sulewski, Managing Editor, FBI LAW ENFORCEMENT
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BULLETIN, Room 7262, 10th & Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington,
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DC 20535.
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