Island Lake eyes social hosting ordinance
Island Lake residents may soon face fines if they provide alcohol to minors or allow underage drinking in their homes.
Officials discussed a social hosting ordinance at a board meeting Thursday night that would assess a $750 fine to the host of a gathering of three or more people that involves underage drinking.
“The middle school is very much in favor of us bringing this ordinance on board to show that it is not an OK thing to do to host or buy alcohol for children under the age of 21,” Mayor Debbie Herrmann said.
Trustee Don Verciglio said similar laws have been popular and effective in other communities. He said the board is considering a social hosting ordinance based on one that is already in place in Lake Zurich.
Such ordinances have been implemented in unincorporated Lake County, as well as several municipalities, including Antioch, Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Lindenhurst, Mundelein and Round Lake Beach.
Trustee John Ponio urged the board to carefully consider the potential ramifications of allowing police to enforce a social hosting law on private property.
“Police have a lot of power and they can inflict harm on people. I think we need to be cautious about an ordinance we put into place,” Ponio said.
Island Lake Police Officer Garrett Schmoller said the law would be enforced based on reports from residents, such as noise complaints.
“Typically we're not going to enter a private property unless we have a call. At that point, we have every reason to enter at least the yard of the property,” Schmoller said.
He added that officers would then observe the situation, knock on the door and see what cooperation they get from the people inside.
“We're not going to kick down any doors,” Schmoller said.
A fine could be assessed regardless of whether the host is aware of underage drinking, although a host would not be fined if he called the police once he became aware of underage drinking, Herrmann said.
A vote on the social hosting ordinance is scheduled for the board's Nov. 11 meeting.