By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO — The introduction of an ordinance prohibiting underage drinking on private property will be on the agenda for the Township Committee’s March 12 meeting, as officials move to close what is seen as a loophole in dealing with the problem.
Police Chief Elizabeth Bondurant has been actively pushing for the ordinance, saying it will help police officers deal with people who are putting themselves in danger through underage drinking.
”This is designed to target underage drinking, outside of a family setting,” said Chief Bondurant. “We want to eliminate those youth parties that sometimes get out of control, and we did not have a foundation to stop that.”
State law only goes as far as banning the practice on public property, but municipalities do have the ability to enact their own laws going a step further and banning the activity on privately-owned properties, township officials said.
The new Plainsboro measure is based on the language of a similar West Windsor ordinance, written by Township Attorney Michael Herbert, who both townships now share as municipal counsel.
The law makes it unlawful for “any person under the legal age who … knowingly possesses or consumes an alcoholic beverage on private property.”
Persons found violating the ordinance would be punished with a $250 fine for the first offense, with $350 fines for each subsequent offense.
The ordinance does make exceptions for certain conditions, including religious ceremonies, the preparation of food or drink while enrolled in a culinary of hospitality education program, or with in the presence of, or with the written permission of a parent, guardian or relative.
Former Township Clerk Patricia Hullfish said the township had been contemplating the move for some time, to put Plainsboro’s ordinances on equal footing with West Windsor, with which it shares a school district.
With the likely approval of the ordinance, it will end a situation where underage residents in both towns could legally drink alcohol on private property in Plainsboro, while not being able to do so legally in West Windsor.
”Friendships span both towns, so it causes problems,” Ms. Hullfish said.
The ordinance will be up for introduction during the Township Committee’s March 12 meeting, and could receive final approval as soon as April.
