Source: http://amherstnoise.weebly.com/nuisance-house-bylaw.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 20:16:48+00:00

Document:
Article 40 in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting convened April 28, 2008, is a proposed "Nuisance House" bylaw. The Article was considered on May 28, 2008, where it passed by a tally vote of 127 Yes, 34 No.
The "Nuisance House" bylaw was proposed by the Campus and Community Coaltion to Reduce High-Risk Drinking (CCC). The CCC is a diverse group of leaders from UMass Amherst and the community who've come together to make a difference. Using environmental management strategies, the CCC is working to change aspects of our culture which promote, support or allow dangerous drinking.
The CCC wrote a Letter of Support and an Introduction to Town Meeting members, which are available on the Story page. This introductory page also gives a brief background on "social host" and "party house" laws that inspired this proposed bylaw. Videos of Town Meeting Warrant Review, the Finance Committee Meeting and Select Board Meeting (both RECOMMENDING this Article), and the Town Meeting in which this Article was VOTED and passed, are also available.
In accordance with the Town of Amherst’s Home Rule Authority, and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town, this bylaw shall permit the Town to impose liability on owners and other responsible persons for the nuisances and harm caused by loud and unruly gatherings on private property and shall discourage the consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons at such gatherings.
Alcohol means ethyl alcohol, hydrated oxide of ethyl, or spirits of wine, from whatever source or by whatever process produced.
Alcoholic beverage means all liquids intended for human consumption as a beverage which contain one half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume at sixty degree Fahrenheit, including malt beverages.
Eviction means actively trying to evict a tenant from a premise by delivery of a notice to quit and subsequent court proceedings, if a tenant fails to vacate the premises.
Gathering is a party, gathering, or event, where a group of persons have assembled or are assembling for a social occasion or social activity.
Legal Guardian means (1) a person who, by court order, is the guardian of the person of a minor; or (2) a public or private agency with whom a minor has been placed by the court.
Parent means a person who is a natural parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, or stepparent of another person.
Premises means any residence or other private property, place, or location, including any commercial or business property.
Property owner means the legal owner of record as listed by the tax assessors records.
Public Nuisance means a gathering of persons on any premises in a manner which constitutes a violation of law or creates a substantial disturbance of the quiet enjoyment of private or public property in a significant segment of a neighborhood. Unlawful conduct includes, but is not limited to excessive noise, excessive pedestrian and vehicular traffic, obstruction of public streets by crowds or vehicles, illegal parking, public drunkenness, public urination, the service of alcohol to underage persons, fights, disturbances of the peace, and litter.
Response costs are the costs associated with responses by law enforcement, fire, and other emergency response providers to a gathering as set forth in a schedule of costs established by the Board of Selectmen.
forth in G.L. c.138, §34.
(a) It is the duty of any person having control of any premises, who knowingly hosts, permits, or allows a gathering at said premises to take all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages by any underage person at the gathering. Reasonable steps include, but are not limited to controlling access to alcoholic beverages at the gathering; controlling the quantity of alcoholic beverages present at the gathering; verifying the age of persons attending the gathering by inspecting driver’s licenses or other government-issued identification cards to ensure that underage persons underage persons do not consume alcoholic beverages while at the gathering; and supervising the activities of underage persons at the gathering.
(b) A gathering constituting a public nuisance may be abated by all reasonable means including, but not limited to, an order by the Police requiring the gathering to be disbanded and citation and/or arrest of any persons under any applicable provision of local or state law.
(c) It is unlawful for any person having control of any premises to knowingly host, permit, or allow a gathering to take place at said premises where at least one underage person consumes an alcoholic beverage, provided that the person having control of the premises either knows an underage person has consumed an alcoholic beverage or reasonably should have known that an underage person consumed an alcoholic beverage and the person having control of said premises failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of an alcoholic beverage by an underage person as set forth in subsection (a) of this Section.
(d) This Section shall not apply to conduct involving the use of alcoholic beverages that occurs exclusively between an underage person and his or her parent or legal guardian as set forth in G.L. c.138, §34.
(e) This Section shall not apply to any Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission licensee at any premises regulated by the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
§4. Mailing of Notice to Property Owner.
Notice of response by police or other local officials to a gathering shall be mailed to any property owner listed on the Town of Amherst property tax assessment records and shall advise the property owner that the third such response on the same premises within a one year period, as measured from the date of the first notice, shall result in liability of the property owner for all penalties associated with such response as more particularly described below.
§5. Persons Liable for a First and Second Response to a Gathering Constituting a Public Nuisance.
If the police department is required to respond to a gathering constituting a public nuisance on the premises, the following persons shall be jointly and severally liable for fines as set forth below. Response costs may also be assessed.
(a) The person or persons residing on or otherwise in control of the property where such gathering took place.
(b) The person or persons who organized or sponsored such gathering.
(c) All persons attending such gatherings who engage in any activity resulting in the public nuisance.
§6. Persons Liable for a Third and Subsequent Response to a Gathering Constituting a Public Nuisance.
If the police department is required to respond to a gathering constituting a public nuisance on the premises more than twice in any one year period, as measured from the date of the first response, the following persons shall be jointly and severally liable for fines as set forth below. Response costs may also be assessed.
of one year should they violate the bylaw.
(b) The person or persons residing on or otherwise in control of the property where such gathering took place.
(c) The person or persons who organized or sponsored such gathering.
(d) All persons attending such gatherings who engage in any activity resulting in the public nuisance.
The Town of Amherst may additionally seek administrative costs and response costs associated with enforcement of Sections 2 and 3, through all remedies or procedures provided by state or local law.
Sections 2 and 3 shall not limit the authority of police officers to make arrests for any criminal offense arising out of conduct regulated by Sections 2 and 3, nor shall they limit the Town of Amherst or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ ability to initiate and prosecute any criminal offense arising out of the same circumstances necessitating the application of Sections 2 and 3.
No provision of this bylaw shall apply where prohibited or preempted by state or federal law.
If any provision of this ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is declared invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, to this end the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
City of San Diego, California, Social host ordinance.
Town of Amherst, Massachusetts, Keg licensing bylaw.
Town of Hadley, Massachusetts, Keg licensing bylaw.
Town of Narragansett, Rhode Island, Party house nuisance ordinance.
Procedural Motion - I move that Article 40 be considered after Article 24.
1) in section 3a, remove the comma following the first occurrence of "premises"
6) remove the word "Sources" and the list of sources at the end of the article.
parent or legal guardian as set forth in G.L. c.138, §34.
(a) It is the duty of any person having control of any premises who knowingly hosts, permits, or allows a gathering at said premises to take all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages by any underage person at the gathering. Reasonable steps include, but are not limited to, controlling access to alcoholic beverages at the gathering; controlling the quantity of alcoholic beverages present at the gathering; verifying the age of persons attending the gathering by inspecting driver’s licenses or other government-issued identification cards to ensure that underage persons do not consume alcoholic beverages while at the gathering; and supervising the activities of underage persons at the gathering.
(c) It is unlawful for any person having control of any premises to knowingly host, permit, or allow a gathering to take place at said premises where at least one underage person consumes an alcoholic beverage, provided that the person having control of the premises either knows an underage person has consumed an alcoholicbeverage or reasonably should have known that an underage person consumed an alcoholic beverage and the person having control of said premises failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of an alcoholic beverage by an underage person as set forth in subsection (a) of this Section.
cycle of one year should they violate the bylaw.
Third and subsequent offense: $300.

References: §34
 §34

§4

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§6
 §34