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Amityville takes a shot at curbing underaged drinking Amityville has become the fourth community in New York State to outlaw serving minors alcohol on private property. The Village Board passed the law this week. The measure is modeled after one in Gloversville, New York, which passed its law following the city of Long Beach, which was the first in the state. Since then, another upstate New York community has also adopted the measure. "We are not looking to get into people's homes and tell them how to live their lives," said Mayor Peter Imbert in explaining the legislative intent of the measure. "What we want to do is be able to act if we have a problem with someone who regularly serves alcohol to minors and to make people more aware of the problems of underaged drinking. Having this on the books will be an added tool for our police department." Amityville Police Chief Woodrow Cromarty, follow- ing a discussion with police chiefs at the state level, brought the law to the Village Board. "The idea is to make parents aware that it is dangerous and illegal to allow young people under 21 years of age to drink at their home," said Cromarty. Cromarty said that his department does not handle a lot of calls involving underaged drinking in homes, but that the new law will be both a public awareness tool as well as something police can use for those who blatantly violate it. "We hope that we never have to enforce this," he said. Captain John Harzinski of the Gloversville Police Department brought the proposal to the Gloversville City Council last year, asking that they consider enacting it into law. "Nationwide we lose between 3,000 and 4,000 young people a year in alcohol related incidents," said Harzinski. "This is in addition to the deaths that are the result of driving while intoxicated or impaired. Those incidents include alcohol poisoning, drownings, and even homicides." Harzinski said that the measure closes the gap of three statewide laws regarding underaged drinkingselling to minors. Endangering the welfare of a child, which applies to those under 17 years of age, and unlawfully dealing with a child, which states you can't sell alcohol to anyone under 21. "When a police officer responds to the scene of underaged drinking, no one takes responsibility for providing the alcohol and the young people are not inclined to give up their sources," said Harzinski. "Under this law, we can make a determination that the owner of the property knew or should have known that there was alcohol being served to underaged drinkers and we can charge them."
Since the measure is a local law, it is considered a violation, but Harzinski said that the aim is not to impose a harsh penalty but to gain compliance. "Hopefully, passage of this law makes people aware of their responsibility and we can save young lives," he said. In other business, the board: +heard from Trustee Peter Casserly that the Amityville Fire Department accepted a donation of 14 Scott Packs from the North Lindenhurst Fire Department and purchased 30 new ones from the department at a cost of $9,975. Each new Scott Pack sells for approximately $4,000 new, said Casserly; +heard from Trustee Ed Johnson that the court processed 240 traffic and 43 miscellaneous summonses for February and closed 281 cases for a total in fines received of $23,245. In addition, 153 parking tickets were issued with 70 closed for a total of $7,905 in fines, $1,813 that went to the parking processing bureau; +Trustee Ubert reported that the building department took in $11,150 in fees in February and continues to monitor several major projects in the Village including housing on Louden Avenue and construction of a new shopping center on Ketcham Avenue and Merrick Road and at the Dolphin Fitness gym. The next regular Village Board meeting will be held April 9, 2007, 8 p.m., Wm. Kay Memorial Building, Walter Saxton Court Room, second floor.
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