Anyone who has ever been arrested in Isla Vista and spent the night in the county jail drunk tank can tell you that it’s about as fun as getting a root canal.
Every year Isla Vista maintains bringing a new wave of students eagerly awaiting their first minor in possession of alcohol ticket.
It is important for students who plan to party this year in Isla Vista to familiarize themselves with the laws and ordinances in effect in order to avoid costly citations or possible arrest.
City College students comprise nearly a third of Isla Vista’s 17,000 residents. On weekends, the population is estimated to climb to anywhere between 20,000 and 40,000 people squeezed into six-tenths of a square mile.
This means a lot of parties and subsequently a lot of officers on the streets.
So how does one avoid getting arrested or issued a ticket?
Well the foot patrol offers a number of ways to party smart and safely.
“I have no problem with people coming out to have fun, I just want everyone to be safe,” said Lieutenant Linver of the Isla Vista foot patrol.
Although he does not condone drinking if you are under the age of 21, he did offer several ways to improve your chances of a night of partying without the police showing up at your door.
For instance, never under any circumstance take your drink out on the street.
The two most common infractions in Isla Vista are minors in possession of alcohol and carrying an open container. Both are misdemeanors, and MIP’s can run as high as $675 and a mandatory alcohol class called the “Youth Offender” program.
If you leave a party and want to bring your cup, always carry it upside down.
“If you’re walking calmly down the street with an upside-down cup, officers will not stop you,” said Linver.
Noise violations are common infractions, which interestingly enough, lead to most of the marijuana and drug paraphernalia citations issued. If music is playing too loud past midnight on weekends, officers have the right to enter the property.
Anyone who has their bag of grass lying out on the coffee table might as well have a bulls-eye beside their bong.
So if you are going to be partying loud and late, hide your stash until the morning.
Also, a new law was put into effect last year that many people don’t know about. It states that if there are minors caught drinking at a keg party not only will those consuming alcohol be issued a citation, the person or persons who bought the keg will be issued a citation for “furnishing alcohol to minors,” which can run as high as $3000.
The foot patrol suggests checking people’s identification before allowing them into the party, or even posting warning signs on the door indicating that no one under 21 will be allowed into the party.
If you have questions or are unsure about how to properly and legally throw a party, you can call the Isla Vista foot patrol at 681-4179, and they will actually send officers to your house to show you the best way to throw a safe and legal party.