Full Notification

Nature of Incident: Social Host Ordinance
Location: City of Camarillo
Date & Time: June 16, 2017
Unit(s) Responsible: Camarillo Police Department’s Community Resource Unit

Narrative: With school coming to an end, high schools will be holding graduation ceremonies and that means summer is right around the corner. The Camarillo Police Department would like to remind graduates, parents, and residents to celebrate responsibly. The Camarillo Police Department actively enforces all alcohol related laws in an effort to prevent underage drinking of alcoholic beverages as well as loud and unruly gatherings. The Camarillo Police Department would like to take this opportunity to remind residents about the Social Host Ordinance, in Camarillo. Camarillo Municipal Code section 10.32 makes it unlawful for any responsible person to conduct, aid, allow, permit, or condone a loud or unruly gathering at a residence or other private property involving minors and the unlawful consumption of alcohol.

Penalties for a violation of the ordinance are as follows:
• First violation is punishable by a $500.00 dollar fine
• A second violation at the same residence or other private property, or by the same responsible person, within a 12 month period is punishable by a $1000.00 dollar fine.
• A third or subsequent violation of this section at the same residence or other private property, or by the same responsible person, within a 12 month period is punishable by a fine of $2500.00 dollars.

Since 2006, The Camarillo Police Department has issued 90 Social Host violation citations. If juveniles are cited, the ordinance does not allow for community service as an option to pay the fine.

In addition, the unincorporated areas of Ventura County have a similar Social Host ordinance, Ventura County Code 6113-4, which makes it a civil violation for any responsible person to conduct or allow a loud or unruly gathering at a residence or other private property at which service to, or consumption of alcohol or alcoholic beverages by, underage persons occurs. A violation of this code is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

The Camarillo Police Department would like to congratulate all the graduates and their families and wish them a safe and happy summer. For questions regarding the Social Host ordinance, please contact the Camarillo Police Department’s Community Resource Unit at (805) 388-5155

Prepared by: Senior Deputy Shawn Holzberger
News Release Date: June 16, 2017
Media Follow-Up Contact: Senior Deputy Shawn Holzberger Camarillo Police Dept. - Community Resource Unit (805) 388-5131
Approved by: Captain Jeremy Paris

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).