SIMI VALLEY : Party-Control Law Tentatively OKd
The Simi Valley City Council has tentatively approved an ordinance that will require those who throw loud and raucous parties to reimburse the city for the cost of dispatching police responding to neighborhood complaints.
Police officials said that during the past year officers answered 845 calls about party disturbances throughout the city, compared to 799 the previous year.
“It’s beginning to be outrageous,” Councilman Glen McAdoo said of the number of disturbance calls generated each year. “The neighborhoods are not designed to have nightclubs in the middle of them, and that’s exactly what’s happened.”
Sgt. Bob Gardner, who helped write the ordinance, said police will first issue a written warning to those responsible for a disturbance complaint. Gardner said those individuals will then be billed for any additional calls the police have to make.
Although the cost of police responses will vary, Gardner said, the least that loud revelers can expect to pay is $250.
Gardner said he has talked to officials of several cities in Los Angeles and Orange counties that have enacted similar laws, and they said the laws were successful in reducing party disturbances.
The council is expected to give final approval to the party ordinance at its meeting next Monday. The ordinance will take effect 30 days later.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
