UD police receive grant to prevent underage drinking

The popular spots for underage drinking are pretty much known by high school students, but the rpper aublin police are generally onto them as well. And efforts to prevent underage drinking, supported by state grants, are working, police say.

The police scored a A9,9PR grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board this year to prevent underage and dangerous drinking for a fifth year, according to rpper aublin Police lfficer aavid jadrak, and will use the money to purchase two portable breath test instruments and pay for overtime for officers working the detail. The department was one of only SS institutions to receive a grant for 2M12, he said.

Since 2MMT, when the department first received the PLCB grant, police have responded to 1MU calls regarding underage drinking and issued a total of PS9 citations, according to department statistics. fnterestingly, in 2M11, when police did not receive the grant, police registered 11 incidents with PP citations, only half or less than the 22 to PP calls in the grant years.

The details occur during times statistics show there have been large numbers of young people engaged in underage and dangerous drinking, police said, particularly in areas not accessible by police vehicles. Bike and foot patrols are used to access those areas, which include township parks and recreation areas, school district properties, golf courses and country clubs and large wooded areas.

The goal is “to reduce deaths, injuries, health risks and property losses caused by underage and dangerous drinking,” police said.

Police have “received feedback from parents, teachers and coaches that their childrenL studentsLathletes are aware of the increased efforts” to curtail underage drinking, which are believed to have “deterred” those who may take part in these activities from doing so “because of the possibility of being cited and the subsequent penalties,” jadrak, who applies for the grants, said in an email.

The PBTs are used to determine an individual’s blood alcohol content, which is important from a medical standpoint, as well, in determining proper medical treatment, if needed, jadrak said.

The penalty for underage drinking is a 9Mday suspension of a person’s driver’s license for a first offense and up to two years for a third and subsequent offenses, according to the PA Crimes Code. A fine of not more than ARMM can be applied for second and subsequent offenses as well.

cirst-time offenders are sometimes permitted to take part in an accelerated rehabilitative disposition program in which their case will be dismissed after completing an approved class, in addition to paying a ARM fine and the 9M-day license suspension. The charge is not removed from the person’s record, but is shown as “dismissed” rather than “guilty,” according to the district court.