Eugene, Ore. – With the new school year at the University of Oregon, Eugene Police, in collaboration with University of Oregon PD, will be staffing enforcement efforts and focused patrols to target illegal alcohol use, noise ordinance violations and unruly gatherings in the neighborhood areas around the university.
These enforcement efforts are data driven, may vary in time and intensity and follow an education-first approach to curtail dangerous behavior often fueled through alcohol use by students and residents in the adjacent off-campus areas. This effort also works in tandem with University Student Conduct and Neighbor Relations to increase awareness.
Last week, EPD joined the University of Oregon and other City staff with area outreach through neighborhood canvassing to convey safety tips and area concerns related to students through the University’s Good Neighbor Welcome campaign geared for new and returning students. Additionally, EPD’s Community Engagement Team (CET) is conducting outreach to educate property owners and management companies regarding their responsibilities under the City of Eugene Ordinance on Unruly Gatherings (“Social Host” Ordinance).
The social host, or Ordinance on Unruly Gatherings, holds individuals criminally responsible for hosting, organizing and allowing an unruly event or social gathering. The Eugene Municipal Court has assigned a base fine of $375 for criminal violations of this ordinance. Additionally, property owners where the event is hosted may also be penalized if there are multiple violations of this ordinance. Both hosts and property owners may be civilly liable for police, fire and public works response costs that fall under this ordinance, at an estimated cost of $800 per incident. Property owners where tenants were issued citations under this ordinance will receive letters in the following days, notifying them of activity at their property, as well as their potential obligation for subsequent events. For more information: SOCIAL HOST
(Information from EPD)
