Varied consequences for drinking underage

Section 6308 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code prohibits the purchase, consumption, possession… Section 6308 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code prohibits the purchase, consumption, possession and transportation of alcohol and alcoholic beverages by those younger than the age of 21.

It’s no secret that many underage students disregard this law.

But they may not be aware of the consequences.

And because underage drinking is not uncommon on Pitt’s campus, authorities including the Pitt police, the city police and the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement are constantly working to enforce it.

Pitt police officer Ron Bennett believes that underage drinking at Pitt is relatively under control, but it will always be an issue.

“Is it a problem? Yes. Is it out of control? No. I think it’s an issue that unfortunately is never going to come to an end,” he said.

No matter which police agency catches violators, guilty individuals go through the same legal processes.

Bennett said that in order to be caught, officers “have to actually see [violators] with the drink in their hand,” or the person must be to the point of intoxication “where [an officer] can visibly see it.”

Once caught, officers who witnessed the crimes give the violators citations. A citation for underage drinking is formally known as a non-traffic citation, which means that it is on the same level as a traffic ticket but does not involve a motor-vehicle violation. Underage drinking is also considered a summary offense – a minor crime that, unlike a misdemeanor or felony, is not likely to involve more serious actions such as being handcuffed or serving jail time.

Citations issued by police officers are sent to the local magistrate’s office. Violators can be fined up to $500, Bennett said.

Violators have the option of pleading guilty and paying the fine or pleading not guilty and requesting a hearing. The magistrate may impose an alcohol-education class for guilty violators. The classes are run by drug- and alcohol-resource centers or organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving or Alcoholics Anonymous.

Sgt. John Kean, an officer from the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, said the violators’ records can be cleared if they take prescribed alcohol classes.

“If the person successfully completes the course, the magistrate may dismiss the citation,” Kean said.

Should the citation remain on the violator’s record, it would have the same status as a speeding ticket. Government jobs may require a record clean from any violations such as citations or even parking tickets, but typical job applications ask only for more serious violations such as misdemeanors and felonies, Bennett said.

Kean acknowledged the general harmlessness of a citation’s effect on finding a job.

“Getting a non-traffic citation when you’re 18, 19 or 20 years old, I can’t see that keeping you out of any job. If you have 10 of them, they might have a question,” he said.

Although citations are issued to students all around campus, none of the police agencies ever patrol the streets specifically looking for underage drinkers. In some cases violators are caught by chance. “We patrol the streets to make sure the streets are safe. We’re looking for safety issues and suspicious activities,” Bennett said.

Parties around campus are undoubtedly the largest sites of underage drinking. Police agencies usually only intervene, however, if they receive complaints from neighbors. If a party is too loud or out of control, the police won’t hesitate to shut it down.

Depending on which agency receives the call, a house party can be broken up in different ways. While Pitt and city police might knock on the front door to notify the hosts they are shutting their party down, officers from the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement rely on more secretive tactics. Unlike Pitt and city police, the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement frequently deploys undercover, plain-clothes officers to combat underage drinking.

“Most of the time the officers that work for me are in an undercover capacity. They’re wearing blue jeans and ball hats, they’re not in uniforms,” Kean said. “If we get a complaint, we’re most likely to go in undercover.”

If undercover Bureau of Liquor Control agents enter an on-campus fraternity house, they will notify the Pitt police first and might ask for their assistance.

Undercover Liquor Control officers also patrol the parking lots at the Mellon Arena and Pitt football games. They look for young-looking tailgaters drinking alcohol. Pitt police are still the primary enforcers at campus parties. They also deal directly with the parties thrown by on-campus fraternities.

“Most of the times the frats cooperate with us,” Bennett said.

Fraternities on the hill are typically permitted three registered parties each semester by the University. Because the dates of the parties are forwarded to the Pitt police, they often to check up on the parties only to make sure they are not too loud and are under control.

Shane Poole, a Pitt sophomore and member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, agrees that his frat and Pitt police “get along pretty well.”

Poole argued, however, that the University should allow fraternities on Upper Campus to host more parties per semester. He believes that because the Pitt police regularly check up on their parties, they are safer than those thrown in off-campus houses.”[The policy is] too strict. We should be able to have parties here whenever we want because it’s safer up here than in off-campus houses,” Poole said.

But some students are already having parties whenever they want – in their dorm rooms.

The University’s policy for students caught with alcohol in their dorm rooms varies depending on whether guests were present in the room at the time the alcohol was discovered. If the violator had any friends over, he or she will be subject to a hosting fine of $250. The fine is meant to deter students from hosting small parties in their rooms.

If the violator lives in a residence hall, the resident director is usually responsible for deciding the appropriate penalty.

Regardless of whether it’s a resident assistant or a Pitt police officer who reported the violation, or whether the students in question live on or off campus, all underage violators will have to take Student Health’s PEAR program. The Personal Education Assistance Referral program is an alcohol class designed to educate students about the negative consequences associated with drinking alcohol. A $50 fine covers the cost of the program.

After being caught drinking in his room with some friends by a pair of RAs, Nate, a Pitt freshman who asked that his last name not be printed, said he was initially angered by the RA’s intrusion.”I was mad when I got caught. We were having a fun time, and they ruined it,” he said.

He admitted, however, that the PEAR class awakened him to some of the dangers of alcohol he hadn’t thought of before.

“Even when you think you’re having fun, you can never be in control of other people,” he said.

If an offender refuses to cooperate with the RA, Pitt police can be called to the dormitory. They are also contacted if a student requires medical attention for drinking too much or if an RA suspects the violator is in possession of drugs.

Residence hall violators will receive an underage-drinking citation only if Pitt police are involved.

While the PEAR program is a standard form of correction, underage drinkers can also be asked to do five to 10 hours of community service and to write a reflection paper on their decision-making processes.

Karin Asher, an assistant director of Residence Life, feels that the University’s penalties also have an educational aspect.

“We’re trying to teach students through this. We’re not trying to slap hands and punish people,” Asher said.

Residence Life decides the penalties only for residents living on campus who are caught by RAs. Violators living off campus, as well as those individuals apprehended by any police agency, are sentenced by the University Student Judicial System’s office. The penalties sanctioned by both organizations are generally consistent, however.

If a student’s record with the University shows a violation for underage drinking, the student may have decreased opportunities when applying to graduate schools and study abroad programs that check students’ records, Asher said.

As for repeat offenders, the PEAR 2 program involves one-on-one meetings with the coordinator of health education. If the student is deemed at risk of alcohol abuse, he may be referred to the counseling center for further assessment.

Repeat violators will also be sentenced to more community service.

Aside from playing a role in underage drinking enforcement, Residence Life offers activities for students on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

From hosting events in Nordy’s Place to opening up the bowling alley in the Pittsburgh Athletic Association building, the activities are meant to be fun alternatives to drinking.

Asher hopes that partygoers will consider Residence Life’s activities in lieu of attending a party.

“If we can get the information out there that yes, there are other things going on, that may change a student’s mind. Is it going to change everyone’s mind? No. We’re not naive enough to think that, but we do know that there are students who are looking for other things to do,” she said.