Published: December 03, 2008 10:55 pm      

State police to oversee underage drinking compliance checks

CUMBERLAND — Local authorities Wednesday discussed how to best ensure effective compliance with the state’s underage drinking laws.

Janie Hutcherson, traffic safety coordinator with the Allegany County Health Department, said at the public meeting of the Board of License Commissioners, also known as the Liquor Board, that Maryland State Police acting Detective Sgt. Chris Holland will oversee this year’s compliance checks.

The compliance checks, funded through a State Highway Administration grant, were conducted by the Sheriff’s Office last year. Hutcherson said it was the Health Department’s preference the checks return to the state police agency because of a liability issue.

Maryland State Police takes academy cadets, who are covered under their own insurance, to conduct the checks. Holland said a typical check involves the cadet entering the establishment and attempting to make an illegal purchase of alcohol. If the transaction is successful, the cadet leaves the establishment and a trooper is to confront the bar owner immediately and issue a citation.

The checks are done near prom or graduation events, officials said, and cost the Health Department approximately $1,000 each. The department is asking the county to pick up a new surcharge implemented by the state Department of Budget Management of up to $300 for each check. Up to three checks are planned in the current fiscal year.

Board chairman Gerald Delaney asked how the citation process works. Holland said a civil citation is typically issued to an offending establishment owner. Delaney suggested perhaps the first violation could receive a civil citation. Subsequent citations might require a criminal citation.

Delaney said the board is concerned that citing bar owners on the spot would allow that bar owner to phone others and warn them of the checks.

“That’s a chance we’re going to have to take,” Holland said.

Commissioner Frederick J. Hill asked if troopers could wait a day or two before citing the owner.

“Word will travel fast,” Hill said. “Why not the next day or two days later? That way, no phone calls.”

Holland said he would check into that.

Commissioner Mike Griffith said the compliance checks are trying to achieve the prevention of underage drinking, not to make money.

“If we’re here to make money, we’re in the wrong business,” Holland said.

Hutcherson showed that police “rarely get anyone around here in a (DUI) checkpoint, but we give around 300 to 400 pieces of literature.”

Hutcherson said Allegany County had zero alcohol-related fatalities on the road in 2006, something that’s “unheard of across the state.”

There were two fatal crashes in Allegany County in 2005, resulting in two deaths, and three incidents in 2007, resulting in four fatalities. Total crashes in the county involving drugs or alcohol have declined from 100 in 2005 to 90 in 2006 and 76 in 2007.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.