Raucous Parties in Rolling Hills May Net Hosts a Bill From City

The Rolling Hills City Council has introduced an ordinance that will require the hosts of rowdy parties to pay for sheriff’s deputies called to break up the party.

Under the ordinance, the sheriff’s deputy called to a raucous party will tell the hosts that if additional deputies are required to break up the party, there will be a price to pay. The deputy will issue a written notice, outlining the ordinance and including a cost breakdown for additional police services. Party-givers who break up the party themselves after receiving the warning will not be charged.

The council unanimously agreed to introduce the ordinance Monday after noting that eight to 10 such parties per year can make a dent in city funds. City Manager Terrence Belanger said Thursday that the city does not know exactly how much those services have cost, but the amount is substantial.

If the measure is passed as expected in two weeks, it would become effective March 6. It would include a fee scale for the cost of additional deputies services.

Capt. Dennis Gillard of the Lomita sheriff’s station said the cost of dispersing a party depends on the type of police service required. He was unable to give a breakdown of those costs.

Belanger told the council that the large parties typically occur around graduation, during the summer, at Christmastime and during spring break. They are usually given by young adults who invite large numbers of people and a lot of trouble, he said. “Those are the kind of parties that we’re really talking about,” he said. “People coming from outside the area who have no respect for the property or the community.”

Councilwoman Gordana Swanson said the ordinance is a way of holding parents responsible for the actions of their children when the parents are out of town.

Several other cities, including neighboring Palos Verdes Estates, enforce similar ordinances. Gillard said Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates are also considering establishing a party ordinance.