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