SVPD to Hold Minor Decoy Operation Over Weekend

In an effort to curb underage drinking in Scotts Valley, the Scotts Valley Police Department will conduct a minor decoy and shoulder-tap operation over the weekend.

The operation is funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and will be a part of a larger statewide operation that will include 29 law enforcement agencies in Northern California alone.

This is the second operation in two weeks by the SVPD. The first, conducted on Feb. 25, sent a minor into 10 Scotts Valley establishments to purchase alcohol. Clerks from Nob Hill Foods, Scotts Valley Gas and Mart, Union 76 and two Shell gas stations were cited.

This is the first year that the SVPD has applied for and received the grant from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Lt. John Hohmann said he decided to apply for the grant after a 2008-09 Santa Cruz Grand Jury report came out with the finding that underage binge drinking in the county is at an alarmingly high rate. The report also said that underage drinking was among the highest in the county at the Scotts Valley Unified School District.

“After seeing that report that said in Scotts Valley alcohol was so easily accessible to minors, I decided to apply for the grant,” Hohmann said.

Hohmann said officers will be out throughout the weekend to visit licensed establishments within the city limits.

“We place more emphasis on educating and less on enforcement,” he said. “We are not trying to surprise people. We just want them to comply with ABC laws.”

Stores that sell alcohol to minors face a minimum fine of $250 and up to 32 hours of community service for the violators. The ABC can also take administrative action, consisting of a fine and either temporary or permanent suspension of the stores' liquor licenses.