Chandler is trying to hold parents hosting underage drinking parties liable. The civil ordinance got first approval Thursday night.
The ordinance would impose fines on parents or adults that are holding parties on their property where underage kids are drinking.
Chandler Police Commander Matt Christensen said this prevents parents from dodging responsibility.
“In effect the parent that’s in the back bedroom that says they don’t know what’s going on, even though there is a loud juvenile party going on outside their room," he said. "[They] can now be held accountable for allowing that party to occur on the premises.”
Several other Valley cities have a similar social host ordinance in place.
“At this point in time the way it works is there are some methods of holding them accountable but they are really difficult to prove," Christensen said. "This is a civil sanction the burden of proof is a little bit lower.”
The advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports the ordinance, and according to its website more than 150 other cities and counties around the country have similar laws.
The city council will vote on final approval of the ordinance in early June.
