REDLANDS>> Two people were cited after selling alcohol to a teen-age Redlands Police Department volunteer Saturday.
Police visited 18 licensed alcohol establishments in the City conducting a Minor Decoy Operation, which uses minors under the direct supervision of a peace officer to enter a licensed establishment and attempt to buy alcohol. During decoy operations, minor decoys are required to answer truthfully if asked their age and to provide valid identification indicating they are underage to buy alcohol.
The enforcement efforts are part of a $24,491 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Police cited a 22-year-old bartender at Rok-n-Fondue, at 25 E. State St., after he checked the 18-year-old female volunteer’s valid California identification and served her alcohol.
Police also cited a 23-year-old clerk at Circle K, at 27300 W. Lugonia Ave., after he checked the volunteer’s identification and sold her alcohol.
Both businesses were also served with ABC paperwork.
The City Council accepted the ABC grant July 5, 2016, for the Police Department to conduct minor decoy and shoulder tap operations. The grant also provides funding for Informed Merchants Preventing Alcohol-Related Crime Tendencies (IMPACT) inspections Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) classes for ABC-licensed businesses. Training is conducted by ABC’s Training/LEAD unit.
The grant funding runs through June 31, 2017, and covers officer overtime and equipment purchases.
This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
ABC grant operations are a component of the Redlands Police Department’s Responsible Redlands initiative. The Redlands Police Department, with the support of state agencies, including the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Office of Traffic Safety, the County of San Bernardino, and local businesses and community groups, launched the initiative in late August 2013 to focus on enforcing alcohol laws.
The Responsible Redlands initiative aims to curb the problems related to binge and underage drinking in Redlands in order to achieve a safer, healthier community. The campaign includes DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to identify intoxicated drivers, party patrols to enforce the City’s Social Host Ordinance, decoy operations to cite businesses and individuals who provide alcohol to underage persons and educational efforts for local businesses that serve alcohol. Responsible Redlands welcomes partnerships with alcohol retailers and establishments that serve alcohol.
The Responsible Redlands initiative addresses problems related to binge and underage drinking through ongoing strategic operations to enforce alcohol laws. It is a collaborative effort formed and led by the Redlands Police Department, supported by the Common Vision Coalition, local businesses and the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control District Office and State Office of Traffic Safety.
For suspected alcohol related violations, please call (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tips can be provided by texting 274637 using the keyword “REDTIP.” You can also call or send text messages to the confidential national WETip Hotline at 800-78CRIME (800-782-7463). For more information about Responsible Redlands, please visit: www.cityofredlands.org/police/Responsible.
Anyone with information regarding crime or suspicious activity is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681 ext. 1. Certain non-emergency crimes may also be reported online using the Redlands Police Department’s CopLogic reporting system at cityofredlands.org/police/report. Suspicious activity and tips can be reported using the Redlands Police Department mobile app available for android, iPhones and iPads.
Redlands Police press releases and other information are available on the Redlands Police Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/redlandspolicedepartment or on the Department website at www.redlandspolice.org.