Operation Back to School policy in full swing
Amanda Charles | Jennie Klahre
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: News
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Continuing for the next 30 days, and then possibly being implemented for good, the program is meant to deter violators of underage drinking and illegal drug use. According to operation coordinator Mary Green, it calls for "zero tolerance" for these infringements.
The University Police is in full cooperation and correspondence with the Wilmington Police Department regarding this issue as 16 officials from the department and three from North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division were deployed for this specific agenda.
During the past year, WPD officers in Districts five and six, which is the eastern side of the city, responded to approximately 2,000 calls for services relating to noise violations.
According to Public Affairs Officer Lucy Crockett with the WPD, the first call Friday night, Aug. 22 came in after midnight, following the inaction of the program. Five citations were written for underage drinking and one was distributed for a noise violation in Carleton Place in the 5200 block of Christian Drive.
The next call was for a large party on George Trask Drive where seven citations were written for underage drinking. The tenant, 18, was given a $250 civil fine for a noise violation and signs he had put out that read "no parking" were removed from the city right-of-way in front of his house.
Calls continued into Saturday night as officers gave out a noise and Hinder and Delay violation on Brickle Avenue.
At another large party on Charter Drive, a noise violation was issued and a few underage drinkers were arrested. One of them was also charged with Hinder and Delay and Drunk and Disruptive. Watch Commander's report indicates that partygoers left yelling and screaming as officers arrived at this location.
According to Captain Randy Pait of the WPD, a total of 25 citations were given out Saturday night due to loud noise, obstruction of officers, and underage drinking.
He warns that police officials plan to forego citations and arrest violators this upcoming weekend starting Aug. 29 to better enforce the new policy.
"This level of disorder has a significant impact on quality of life in the affected residential neighborhoods," Crockett stated in the e-mail to all UNCW students.
However, Chief of University Police David Donaldson assures the community that not all violators are UNCW students. "There are probably one-third from the university, one-third from Cape Fear Community College, and one-third other citizens," he said.
On a typical weekend, one squad of University officers patrols campus including about four or five officers. Jurisdiction, however, only includes the UNCW grounds.
Students caught violating regulations on campus are referred to the campus judicial system if under cooperation and non-students are cited with trespassing and could be banned from campus for one year. If there are charges beyond this, they could be referred to criminal court with a possibility of arrest.
Proper measures for off campus parties and illegal substance use are ensued by the Wilmington Police Department.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
anon
posted 8/27/08 @ 10:43 PM EST
this sucks. police should focus on the real criminals who are actually hurting people, not college students trying to have a good time.
klk
posted 8/27/08 @ 10:54 PM EST
Noise gets to be too much when you have a job and classes. Yeah, we all want to have a good time but when it gets to be 3am and people are trying to sleep because they have kids and a job its only fair that the people partying respect that. (Continued…)
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