Underage drinkers in the borough may soon face stricter penalties if the Milltown Borough Council passes an ordinance introduced last week.
The new law would allow law enforcement to address the issue on private property, bringing Milltown’s consequences for such offenses on an even keel with some neighboring towns, officials said.
“We’re like every other town, with problems with kids drinking,” Police Chief Raymond Geipel said. “Our kids go to Spotswood High School, so we don’t want kids from surrounding towns to think Milltown is going to be lax about this.”
The proposed ordinance would cement penalties for underage drinking on private property, according to Geipel. First-time offenders would be sentenced to 24 hours of community service. For a second offense, the penalty would increase to 40 hours of community service and $100 fine. Those who violate the law three or more times would face 80 hours of community service, a $500 fine and a three-month suspension of driving privileges.
Those who have not yet obtained a driver’s license would be penalized with a six-month postponement of driving privileges.
“With the additional penalties, maybe kids will think twice before taking the chance,” Geipel said.
The Borough Council voted unanimously in favor of introducing the ordinance, which Council President Randy Farkas said would serve as more of a preemptive measure than the cure for an ill. He pointed out that Milltown’s lack of an ordinance to mirror that of surrounding municipalities could create a problem by sending the message that the borough could provide refuge for underage drinking.
“There’s not a problem here,” Farkas said. “I think as the mayor and council, we’re trying to be proactive instead of reactive on this issue. We’re very proud of the [municipal] alliance and the DARE program, and we want to be consistent.”
While drinkers under 21 now meet penalties for their actions in the borough that can include suspension or postponement of their driving privileges, the current law only applies to public property, which has left a loophole that the ordinance would fill, according to Borough Clerk Mike Januszka.
Police Officer Chris Witt acknowledged instances of underage drinking in town, but said it is not a rampant issue. He said a lack of supervision can contribute to illegal alcohol consumption, citing the example of households with two working parents as a situation in which the opportunity could present itself.
“We definitely want to keep a wrap on it, especially with summer coming,” Witt said.
The New Jersey chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) hosted a countywide town hall meeting in April, which is designated as Alcohol Awareness Month. In efforts to thwart underage drinking, the group is pushing for towns to adopt keg registration ordinances, among other strengthened policies.
Last year in April, the organization focused on alcohol consumption by youths on private property, encouraging ordinances to address the problem for towns that had yet to enact such laws. East Brunswick adopted such an ordinance that same month, after authorities busted a house party with close to 100 underage drinkers, but at that time could only charge the providers of the alcohol.
South River followed suit with an ordinance of its own the following month, and in June, Spotswood joined in the efforts.
All three towns carry penalties of $250 for a first offense and $350 for subsequent violations, with license suspensions or postponements lasting for up to six months. According to Januszka, Milltown modeled its ordinance after that of Dunellen.
While house parties and other drinking on private property is no longer permissible for those under the legal age, parents can still administer alcohol to their children within the home, whether for religious or other purposes.