The Algonquin Police Department now has more power in enforcing underage drinking laws after the Algonquin Village Board signed off on an ordinance change last week. 

The Algonquin Village Board during its April 17 meeting approved the changes, which took effect April 18.

Algonquin Police Chief Russell Laine and Sgt. Robert Salazar explained the changes during a Committee of a Whole meeting earlier this month.

“One of the main changes in the ordinance is that underage drinking parties could be enforced even if they're not held at a home,” Salazar said. “For instance, if there is an underage party at a hotel, in a vehicle or a park, the ordinance would apply to those places as well.”

The amendment also would make it possible for the village to recover funds resulting from any emergency medical and police services needed in association with an underage drinking party, Salazar said.

The ordinance changes mirror a social hosting ordinance in Mundelein, Salazar said. The full ordinance is attached as a PDF to this article. 

A third change to the local law would coincide with the police department’s newly developed Party Patrol Program.

Under the program, parents planning to leave town for a vacation or business could go to police headquarters to sign a permission form allowing officers to enter into their homes should police suspect an underage drinking party is under way.

The program, which kicks off this month, is the first of its kind in the area. Parents simply would leave a key with a neighbor or trusted friend, which police would use to enter the house should they suspect teens are drinking and partying at the house.

“One of the changes to the social hosting ordinance would state that if the parents took reasonable steps to prevent an underage drinking party —  such as signing up for the Party Patrol Program — then we would be less likely to charge them (with a violation) should one occur,” Salazar said during the Committee of a Whole meeting earlier this month.

The social hosting ordinance amendments and installation of the new Party Patrol Program coincide with April's Alcohol Awareness month.