Hopewell Township adopted an identical ordinance last month
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
Pennington has adopted an ordinance prohibiting underage possession or consumption of alcohol on private property.
The Borough Council voted unanimously Monday night in favor of the measure.
Hopewell Township adopted an identical ordinance last month.
Hopewell Borough has had an underage drinking law since July 2006. Under consideration by Hopewell officials — until Monday — was an amendment to make their ordinance identical to Pennington’s and the township’s. However, Hopewell decided not to change their ordinance.
Pennington’s new law enables police to crack down on unsupervised teenage drinking parties on private property. Penningon has its own police force. The Hopewell Township Police Department covers Hopewell Borough as well as the township.
The underage drinking measure has had the support of the township police, county prosecutor, regional school district and the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance, which works against substance abuse by young people.
West Windsor and Lawrence are among the 177 towns in the state that have adopted ordinances prohibiting underage consumption or possession of alcohol on private property.
The text of ordinance says the measure must be reviewed in writing annually by the chief of police and health officer.
A violation of the ordinance by anyone at least 18, but not yet 21, will bring a fine of $250 for the first offense and $350 for any subsequent offense. Municipal judges also may require community service and suspended driving privileges for six months. A second or any subsequent offenses will result in mandatory alcohol counseling.
Cases of underage drinking involving those under 18 will be handled by the Family Division of state Superior Court in Trenton.
Hopewell Borough’s ordinance does not contain several provisions, such as the exemptions listed below and found in the ordinances adopted by the township and Pennington. They are:
— A person under the legal age drinking age of 21 is not prohibited from (a) possessing or consuming an alcoholic beverage in connection with a religious observance, in the presence of, or with the written permission of a parent or guardian or (b) the possession of an alcoholic beverage in the preparation of food while enrolled in a culinary arts or hotel management program.
—Good Samaritan section exempts any person who requests assistance from authorities (such as via a 911 call) seeking aid for a person who is suffering from the effects of alcohol or otherwise is in need of medical assistance. In an instance where the person to whom assistance is provided is under 21, that person also shall not be charged.
— Call for Aid Exemption — Any person who is a resident of a dwelling on private property and requests assistance from the authorities or from an off-site adult for the purpose of controlling or removing nonresidents who are on that property shall not be charged with underage possession or consumption of alcohol, as long as assistance is provided as a result of such a request.

