vernonia prevention coalition
february28
2012
11
The content on this page is provided by the Vernonia Prevention Coalition
Be a Piece of the Puzzle:
Lessons Learned Too Late - For Others it Doesn’t Have to Be
By DeAnna Pearl
Last weekend, 14 year
old Ashley Long told her
parents she was going to a slumber
party. But instead of spending the night
watching videos and eating popcorn
two blocks away, she piled into a car
with a bunch of her friends and rode to
a condo in Medford, OR, where police
say the big sister of one of her friends
was throwing a party with booze and
marijuana. After drinking on the drive,
and downing more drinks in the condo,
14 year old Ashley Long.
it came time for Ashley to take her
turn on a tank of helium that everyone
else was inhaling to make their voices
sound funny. Instead, she passed out and
later died at a hospital, the result of an
obstruction in a blood vessel caused by
inhaling helium from a pressurized tank.
Police have arrested 27-year-old
Katherine McAloon, who lived in the
condo, on charges of providing alcohol
and marijuana to minors. Four men who
were at the party have been questioned
by police, but have not been charged,
said Medford Police Lt. Mike Budreau.
More charges may be filed after police
turn over their evidence to the district
attorney. She has since been released
on $3,500 bail and due in court in mid-
March.
“Teenage girl dies after inhaling helium
at party” Excerpt from Associated Press,
22 Feb. 2012
Oregon law prohibits anyone,
except a parent or legal guardian, from
providing alcohol to a minor or juvenile.
A minor is any person under the age of
21 and a juvenile is any person under
the age of 18. Parents or guardians may
legally provide alcohol to their minor
child or ward and only in a private
residence when accompanying their
minor child. A parent cannot transfer
this responsibility to another adult or
provide alcohol in a public place. If you
allow your property and/or home to be
used for a party where minors, other than
your minor child(ren), consume alcohol
in your presence, you may have to forfeit
property and may be issued a criminal
citation.
ORS 165.805 Misrepresentation of
age by a minor
When minors misrepresent their age,
purposely are not truthful about their
age to purchase alcohol, enter a lounge
or evade detection by law enforcement,
they are referred to juvenile court or
receive a criminal citation, depending
on their age. The minor may be fined.
If DMV identification is used in
misrepresentation, the minor’s driving
privileges may be suspended for up to
one year and/or the minor will have to
wait for up to one year to apply for a
driver’s license. (Class C Misdemeanor)
residence, the parent can be then cited
for contributing to a minor.
ORS 471.410(3) Controlling an
area where minors are permitted to
consume alcohol
ORS 471.430 Minor in possession of It is illegal for someone exercising
control over private real property to
alcohol/minor in prohibited area
When minors are in possession of allow any person under 21 to consume
alcohol, they are either holding the alcohol on the property in your presence.
alcohol, have consumed the alcohol, It is also illegal to allow any person
or attempted to purchase the alcohol. under age 21 to remain on the property
They will be referred to juvenile court if they have consumed alcohol. Private
or receive a criminal citation. The minor real property may include a hotel room,
will be fined and/or required to perform camp site, or any rented/leased location.
community service. Minors/juveniles The only exception is for your own
may be sent to alcohol assessment minor child(ren). If you control an area
and treatment. Minors may consume where minors consume alcohol, you
sacramental wine as part of a religious will receive a criminal
service. (Criminal Violation)
citation.
(Criminal
Violation)
ORS 471.610 Confiscation of liquor
and property
ORS 471.565 Licensee,
When any officer arrests a person for permittee and social
violating a liquor law (e.g.; selling host liability
alcohol without a license) the officer As a licensee, permittee
may take into possession all alcoholic or social host, if you
beverages and other property used in serve visibly intoxicated
violation of the law. Other properties persons or guests, you
that can be confiscated include: bars, may be held liable for
glasses, chairs, tables, music devices, damages caused by the
furniture, and equipment. This property persons or guests away
is forfeited to the state of Oregon if the from your home or
person is convicted.
licensed premises.
ORS 471.620 Property or places
subject to confiscation
Any room, house, building, boat,
structure or place of any kind where
alcohol beverages are sold or given
away in violation of the law is a public
nuisance. Anyone who maintains or
assists in maintaining such a place, or
permits it in a place they own, manage
or lease, violates the Liquor Control Act.
ORS 471.567 Liability for serving
minors; liability of a minor for
misrepresentation of age
As a licensee, permittee or social host,
you may be liable for injuries caused
by a minor who obtained alcohol from
you when you did not properly check for
identification. Minors who misrepresent
their age and cause a licensee to be fined
or have their liquor license suspended or
revoked can be held liable for damages
ORS 471.410(2) Furnishing alcohol to sustained by the licensee.
a minor
No person shall sell, give or make ORS 475.906 Penalties for unlawful
alcohol available to a minor. A parent or delivery of Marijuana to minors
legal guardian may provide alcohol to If you are over 17-years-old and deliver
their minor child in a private residence any amount of marijuana to a minor who
as long as the parent is with the minor is at least three years younger than you
child. If you illegally provide alcohol to (whether or not you receive something
a minor, or provide alcohol to an adult for it), you have committed a Class
that you know will make it available A felony punishable by a maximum
to a minor, you will receive a criminal sentence of 20 years and a $375,000
citation. (Class A Misdemeanor) fine. There also are stronger penalties for
NOTE: if the minor leaves the private the delivery or possession of marijuana
within 1,000 feet of a school.
Currently Columbia County, nor
City of Vernonia, has a social hosting
ordinance to hold landlords, home
owners or proper owners accountable for
planned parties like this. Our community
is vulnerable and has been used, in the
past, as a host of many parties in the
woods and RAVES. We do not have any
teeth, in our current ordinances to hold
people accountable for these potentially
deadly gatherings. These ordinances
are not to deter regular gatherings,
monitored by responsible adults, from
occurring. But they are to hold people
accountable for gatherings, private or
public for knowingly contributing to
minors other than their own. These
types of gatherings bank on the fact that
if things get out of hand, first responders
will take care of it and they are held
harmless.
It is hard to believe that an adult
would provide a space for a 14 year
old and her friends to experiment with
drugs and alcohol. What is not hard to
understand is the tragic outcome when
it does happen. Who is responsible? We
all are if we do not learn from this all
too common occurrence and hold people
accountable. While it is too late for the
parents of the 14 year old, it is not too
late for others to learn and take action.
More information on OLCC
Laws, go to www.oregon.gov/OLCC If
you are interested in finding out how
you can help with these issues, contact
DeAnna Pearl @ (503) 369-7370 or
email her at DeAnna@vernonia-or.gov.
National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Are you feeling desperate, alone or
hopeless? Call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline a free, 24-hour
hotline available to anyone in suicidal
crisis or emotional distress. Your call
will be routed to the nearest crisis
center to you.
Veterans Suicide
Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1
