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20
March 2002
Parents
And Adults Beware
Two-Week Spring Break Operation Cracks Down on Home Parties, College
Drinking Parties and Underage Drinkers
What:
Representatives from over 10 law enforcement agencies, community
residents, parents and youth kick-off Operation Safeguard, a two-week
countywide operation aimed at reducing underage drinking and youth
access to alcohol during Spring Break. This year’s operation
focuses on home parties, a common setting where teens drink. Operation
Safeguard will also include DUI checkpoints, compliance checks, keg
registration enforcement and shoulder tap and decoy operations. Law enforcement
and community organizations will also be distributing public information
brochures outlining underage drinking laws and the penalties for providing
alcohol to minors.
Why:
 |
Alcohol is the number one drug consumed by youth. |
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One
third of 6th and 9th graders get alcohol from their own homes. |
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Teens
cite other people’s homes as the most common setting for underage
drinking. |
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In
the last two years, 29 people under 21 in San Diego County had alcohol
in their system when they died. |
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Half
of all teen suicides and rapes involve alcohol. |
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Underage
drinking –alcohol-related crashes, suicides, homicides, sexual
assaults, etc.—costs California taxpayers $6.5 billion each year. |
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Last
year’s Operation Safeguard included over 500 operations,
resulting in more 200 arrests and citations, including 83 adults cited
for providing alcohol to minors. |
When:
Friday, March 22, 2002, 10:30 AM
Where:
Belmont Park—Mission Beach
(Parking Lot South Of Coaster)
Who:
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Chief David Bejarano, San Diego Police Department (619) 531-2777 |
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Manuel
Espinoza, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (916)
263-7949 |
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Joan
Stein, Chief of Juvenile Division, San Diego County District Attorney’s
Office (619) 531-3529 |
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Deputy
Kim Baker, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (858) 467-4501 |
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Larry
Barnett, Director of Public Safety, University of San Diego (619)
260-4712 |
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Vince
Jimno, Law Enforcement Task Force on Underage Drinking (760) 728-6164 |
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Patty
Drieslein, Social Availability Committee, Policy Panel on Youth Access
to Alcohol (858) 391-9303 |
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Suzy
Shimasaki and Karen Larang, San Diego Youth Council |
Visuals:
Motorcade of patrol cars with flashing lights, students and community representatives
with signs supporting increased law enforcement; officers in uniform. |
