The Plainsboro Township Committee unanimously passed an ordinance on April 9 giving Plainsboro Police the authority to enforce underage drinking laws on private property.##M:[more]##
The township joins neighboring municipalities, including West Windsor, who have similar underage drinking ordinances already in place. Previous laws only permitted police to enforce underage drinking on public property, like schools.
Officials, including Police Chief Elizabeth Bondurant, said the new law exempts minors from being charged if they are consuming the alcohol “in connection with a religious observance, ceremony, or rite, or possession or consuming an alcoholic beverage in the presence of, or with the written permission of such person’s parent, guardian or relative who has attained the legal age to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.” It also exempts those who possess the alcohol in connection with preparing food while enrolled in a culinary arts or hotel management program or with employment.
Under the proposed township ordinance dealing with private property, violations would not show up on a minor’s criminal history. And the penalties for underage drinking charge vary. The first offense is a $250 fine and rises to $350 for subsequent offenses. Bondurant says, though, that the municipal judge also has authority to potentially issue a six-month license suspension.
Township Attorney Mike Herbert said that in speaking with officials in other towns, they’ve told him that since the law in their towns have passed, “there’s been no complaints of abuse, and it’s curtailed underage drinking.”
