California Law Allows Police To Enter Homes Without Search Warrants

To cut down on underage drinking, county officials will begin enforcement of a new ordinance next month that allows officers entry into residencies if they suspect minors are drinking on the premises.

The Social Host Liability Ordinance grants law enforcement the ability to issue citations to hosts knowingly permitting the consumption of alcohol by minors on their property. Although officers are scheduled to begin enforcing the ordinance Dec. 1, officials may postpone enforcement until administrative measures are ready.

The Social Host Liability Ordinance — set to be enforced on Dec. 1 — gives law officers the authority to enter a residence if they suspect minors are consuming alcohol. The ordinance aims to keep residents and landlords accountable.
The ordinance defines a “host” as any person either owning, renting or in control of the property, and a “party, gathering or event” as a social gathering of five or more persons, at least one of whom is a minor. Hosts violating the ordinance for the first time will be fined $500 and required to complete a mandatory educational class. Second-offenders are handed a $1,000 fine and subsequent offenses result in a $2,000 fine.

Fifth District Supervisor Joseph Centeno said the ordinance aims to hold residents and landlords accountable for what occurs in their homes.

“We were trying to also ensure that people who rented properties to youngsters and knowingly condoned the booze parties, that they were going to be held responsible,” Centeno said. “We also want to protect absentee owners who are not on their properties and knowledgeable of what is happening.”

Although critics of the ordinance have voiced concerns that police may use the ordinance as an excuse to enter a house, Centeno said officers will enforce the ordinance only as needed, like situations when law enforcement responds to noise complaints and other calls.

“I do not think the sheriff’s department will look for these things going on,” Centeno said. “When they respond to a complaint they will make the appropriate response [if they are in violation of the ordinance].”

Third District Supervisor Doreen Farr provided the single vote against the Social Host Ordinance, based on the implications the ordinance has on her district, which includes Isla Vista — where student residences may have numerous youth and adults age 17 to 24 or older living under one roof.

“Of course, it will be much more problematic in Isla Vista, where many household units do not have typical families and are groups of students, some who are underage and some who are not,” Farr said. “How are you going to correctly assess if someone is actually furnishing alcohol to a minor or is simply living in a residence with alcohol in it?”

In addition to enforcement concerns, Farr said she voted against the proposal because it lacked the administrative planning necessary for effective implementation.
“The other part was it did not come to the board’s agenda through the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services, it came from Supervisor Centeno on the request of members of the community,” Farr said. “It did not come with a full analysis of how this would be administered.”

County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services has been charged with the ordinance’s administration. Interim Program Manager John Doyle said ADMHS will work alongside local officials on an education program prior to the start of enforcement. Additionally, Doyle said, the county has allocated additional time and resources for these efforts to be carried out in Isla Vista.

“It is a countywide ordinance, but it has the potential to affect Isla Vista the most, and we really need to protect the district who voted against, very strongly I might add, the Social Host Liability Ordinance,” Doyle said.

According to Doyle, outreach efforts have included the distribution of pamphlets and other informational outlets both on campus and throughout the county.

California Fiscal Crisis And IOUs

The State Of California will be issuing IOUs in a week if lawmakers in California cannot solve the 24 Billion dollar budget deficit and the state Treasurer is planning to tap the states reserve fund to meet the state debt crisis. The crisis reached a boiling point when lawmakers could not reach a deal on 11 billion dollars worth of budget cuts. Therefore, next Wednesday the State Of California will start the year with a unbalanced spending plan and a cash shortfall. The state Controller of California John Chaing said that he, would be forced to use IOUs to pay the states bills beginning July 2. The states 2.8 Billion Dollar shortfall grows to 6.5 Billion dollars in September and after that you will see double digit shortfalls. Chaing said the inability for the state, to balance there checkbook will now mean short changing taxpayers, local governments and small businesses. State Treasure Bill Lockyer meanwhile, is ready to draw on reserves for economic recovery sales tax bonds for the State Of California. The government dipped into the same reserve fund to make a principal payment on the economic recovery bonds, but was able to top the reserves back up within days. The 11 Billion dollar cuts failed down party lines in both houses in California, Republicans saying it shortfall of the savings needed and amounted to posturing by Democrats. Standard and Poor's said it will review the state economic recovery bond, or ERB rating after further projections as to the size and timing of potential draws on the ERB's reserves. The bonds were approved by state voters in 2004, to help the state through another financial crisis and are secured by sales taxes and general obligation pledge by the state. If California draws on debt reserve funds are rare and likely to send make waves in the financial markets. Finally, this budget crisis reflects the strain on cash flow and may signal a situation that leads to a temporary disruption of normal debt services payment. Therefore, how long before we see a Obama Bailout Plan for the State of California. I would love to hear your comment.

California 5 Billion For Illegal Immigrants

The Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger says, he is happy illegals immigrants receive state services and says they are not to blame for California's 24.3 Billion Dollar deficit. Gov.Schwarzenegger, a immigrant himself says the estimated 4 billion to 5 billion the state spends on illegal immigrants annually is a small percentage of the deficit. The Republican Governor told the Sacramento Bee Editorial Board on Friday that it is a easy to scapegoat illegal immigrants". But he says, the state budget has a much deeper spending imbalance. Governor Schwarzenegger noted the federal government requires California to provide emergency health care and education to illegal immigrants. Governor Schwarzenegger says illegal immigrants often help pick the state's crops and constructs it's buildings. Finally, Governor Schwarzenegger has given illegal immigrants permission to break the immigration laws of our country because they pick our crops. The people of California should vote this clown out of office for making these dumb statements.