(Spirit Lake)– The Sheriff’s Office may soon have a new tool to help fight underage drinking in rural Dickinson county.
The board of supervisors today (Tuesday) reviewed a proposed disorderly house ordinance that’s intended to crack down on underage drinking parties. Under the ordinance, anyone present at such gatherings will be subject to being cited…not just those who are actually caught drinking. Land/building owners could also be sited if they have knowledge of such parties taking place on their land or in their building.
As of right now, a handful of cities in the county have such an ordinance. Ron Vincelli, a prevention consultant with the Northwest Iowa Alcohol and Drug Treatment Unit, says that results in underage drinking parties being moved to other areas of the county that don’t have such an ordinance.
The proposed ordinance will be brought back at an upcoming meeting for a public hearing prior to being acted on.
