TUSTIN : City Backs Charge for Repeat Police Calls

Joining cities across the county, the City Council has initially approved an ordinance that allows the Police Department to bill residents for return calls to the same location.

The department expects final approval of the ordinance at the council’s next meeting Oct. 5, at which time the law will go into effect immediately. Police Capt. Steve Foster said there has been no opposition.

“The purpose is to make the public responsible and give us a tool to deal with parties that cause problems over and over again at certain locations,” Foster said. “It puts teeth into our ability to break up a party, instead of going back three or four times.”

Police officials also hope that the fee will help recover the costs of repeated calls.

When the ordinance goes into effect, those responsible for large gatherings or parties, where police are called a second time because of noise or other disturbances, will be charged a fee. The department has not yet decided upon the exact fees it will charge, but it will establish a minimum and maximum fee, Foster said.

The hosts will be billed for the officers’ time, which in other cities has cost between $100 and $500.

The ordinance, which was given initial approval Monday night, ensures that in the case of apartments, renters will be charged, and not managers or building owners.

Similar ordinances have been passed in more than 20 Orange County cities.