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Paying for the party
City panel weighs family fines after troubling teen get-togethers
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CommentAmanda, 16, was on the hot seat at Napa City Hall, with Napa City Councilmembers Juliana Inman and Mark van Gorder and City Manager Mike Parness sitting as her judge and jury.
The evidence was clear. Amanda had messed up royally, not once but twice. In May, police broke up a teen drinking party at her east Napa home. A month later, police did it again.
The evidence was clear. Amanda had messed up royally, not once but twice. In May, police broke up a teen drinking party at her east Napa home. A month later, police did it again.
In both instances, her mother was away. In neither instance had Amanda herself been drinking. She blew .00 on her blood-alcohol tests, police said.
Napa has an ordinance against underage parties involving alcohol. Amanda’s mother had been slapped with $2,000 in civil penalties, plus another $800 to cover police costs.
Napa has an ordinance against underage parties involving alcohol. Amanda’s mother had been slapped with $2,000 in civil penalties, plus another $800 to cover police costs.
At Tuesday’s appeal, the mom, a single parent who works two jobs, was both mortified by her daughter’s behavior and distraught about how to pay such stiff city fees.
“It’s huge for me,” she said. “I barely get by as it is.”
“It’s huge for me,” she said. “I barely get by as it is.”
Even so, the mom said it was difficult to ask for leniency. She had appealed the first set of charges before the second party occurred.
“I’m a little embarrassed to be sitting here because of that situation,” she said. “I don’t have an argument to argue.”
Amanda (to protect her privacy, the Register is not using her real name) showed little emotion at first. “I didn’t intend to invite people over,” she said of the first incident. A planned sleep-over for two girlfriends somehow grew into a full-blown party involving a dozen kids under 18, she said.
As for the second incident less than a month later? “I invited maybe 10-12 people over,” she said. “I just wanted to have some friends over.”
Contrary to her wishes, they brought alcohol.
As she talked, her composure began to crumble. “I pretty much screwed myself over with the second one,” she said.
“After the second incident, I was so mad at myself. Why did this happen?” she said.
“I have to help my mom out now. I see how she struggles with the money,” said Amanda, now fighting back tears.
City officials were sympathetic, but they wanted to make sure that the hearing served as a teaching moment.
“I went through really difficult teen years myself. My mom kicked me out of the house,” van Gorder said.
When alcohol fuels teen parties, things can quickly get out of hand, he said. “I saw some really, really bad things happen.”
Guys who show up with alcohol “are already out of control,” van Gorder said. “They’re not listening to you.”
“What really concerns me is not being able to say no and not calling the police,” Inman told Amanda. When alcohol, older boys and younger girls are thrown into the party mix, “there can be rape and assault. Bad things can happen,” she said.
Amanda was just 15 when the first party occurred. “Before this, I’ve never done anything to make (my mother) not trust me,” she said.
Her mother concurred. “This is a whole new level I have to be aware of,” she said.
Parness proposed waiving the first set of charges, while letting Amanda pay off the second batch on the installment plan. “The goal is to change behavior,” not raise money for the city, he said later.
After contemplating how much Amanda could earn at a minimum wage job while continuing to go to school, the panel cut the charges to $1,200.
Amanda will be able to pay it off over two years at $50 per month. She can also get credit for working as a community volunteer, councilmembers said.
Her mother said it would be a good thing for Amanda to get a job. “I think she has too much time on her hands,” she said.
Amanda said these parties taught her a thing or two about her friends. “I was so mad. ‘I got a ticket for you guys drinking. Are you going to help me pay for this?’” she asked her girlfriends.
Their answer, she said: “No, we’re not even going to tell our parents.”
After the party’s over
What
The city of Napa makes parents pay the cost of enforcement when teen parties require law enforcement intervention.
How many
Police issued citations for 37 teen parties in 2005-06, according to Napa Police Chief Rich Melton. The number has declined since.
How it works
Any person who violates the city’s alcohol/loud party ordinance is subject to a $1,000 civil penalty, plus fees to cover police costs. A police officer’s time is assessed at nearly $100 per hour.
“I’m a little embarrassed to be sitting here because of that situation,” she said. “I don’t have an argument to argue.”
Amanda (to protect her privacy, the Register is not using her real name) showed little emotion at first. “I didn’t intend to invite people over,” she said of the first incident. A planned sleep-over for two girlfriends somehow grew into a full-blown party involving a dozen kids under 18, she said.
As for the second incident less than a month later? “I invited maybe 10-12 people over,” she said. “I just wanted to have some friends over.”
Contrary to her wishes, they brought alcohol.
As she talked, her composure began to crumble. “I pretty much screwed myself over with the second one,” she said.
“After the second incident, I was so mad at myself. Why did this happen?” she said.
“I have to help my mom out now. I see how she struggles with the money,” said Amanda, now fighting back tears.
City officials were sympathetic, but they wanted to make sure that the hearing served as a teaching moment.
“I went through really difficult teen years myself. My mom kicked me out of the house,” van Gorder said.
When alcohol fuels teen parties, things can quickly get out of hand, he said. “I saw some really, really bad things happen.”
Guys who show up with alcohol “are already out of control,” van Gorder said. “They’re not listening to you.”
“What really concerns me is not being able to say no and not calling the police,” Inman told Amanda. When alcohol, older boys and younger girls are thrown into the party mix, “there can be rape and assault. Bad things can happen,” she said.
Amanda was just 15 when the first party occurred. “Before this, I’ve never done anything to make (my mother) not trust me,” she said.
Her mother concurred. “This is a whole new level I have to be aware of,” she said.
Parness proposed waiving the first set of charges, while letting Amanda pay off the second batch on the installment plan. “The goal is to change behavior,” not raise money for the city, he said later.
After contemplating how much Amanda could earn at a minimum wage job while continuing to go to school, the panel cut the charges to $1,200.
Amanda will be able to pay it off over two years at $50 per month. She can also get credit for working as a community volunteer, councilmembers said.
Her mother said it would be a good thing for Amanda to get a job. “I think she has too much time on her hands,” she said.
Amanda said these parties taught her a thing or two about her friends. “I was so mad. ‘I got a ticket for you guys drinking. Are you going to help me pay for this?’” she asked her girlfriends.
Their answer, she said: “No, we’re not even going to tell our parents.”
After the party’s over
What
The city of Napa makes parents pay the cost of enforcement when teen parties require law enforcement intervention.
How many
Police issued citations for 37 teen parties in 2005-06, according to Napa Police Chief Rich Melton. The number has declined since.
How it works
Any person who violates the city’s alcohol/loud party ordinance is subject to a $1,000 civil penalty, plus fees to cover police costs. A police officer’s time is assessed at nearly $100 per hour.
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kevin wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:48 AM:
crusherfan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:30 AM:
Pay the fines,put her on communitty service and pursue the kids who brought the alchohol as they are not friends,they are punks!gotta wonder where mom was the second time. "
mamyt wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:39 AM:
anothernapamom wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:35 AM:
Mark van Gorder was the one who was kicked out as a teenager.
mamyt:
NVR said they're not using her real name. "
truthteller wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:39 AM:
Farmgirl wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:46 AM:
mafi wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:48 AM:
mamyt- it's an alias as stated... "
wipemedown wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:53 AM:
Dwayne wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:53 AM:
"...Amanda (to protect her privacy, the Register is not using her real name)"... "
mominapa wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:57 AM:
MP wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:02 AM:
wined0wnnapa wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:04 AM:
Dwayne wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:53 AM:
" mamyt...... In the article:
"...Amanda (to protect her privacy, the Register is not using her real name)"... " "
mominapa wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:09 AM:
pbfallon wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:10 AM:
Straight Talk wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:17 AM:
My mother did kick me out of the house at 18 years. To say I was a difficult teen is an understatement. Amanda’s mistake is one made too often by too many teens in Napa and across the country and she is learning a serious lesson.
The Register is not posting the name of an underage defendant. Paragraph 9: "...to protect her privacy, the Register is not using her real name."
To crusherfan.... wow. There are so few Saints in the world it's good to know there are people like you – completely without sin. Tell us, how do you do it?
When you write "This kid should have gotten a woopen...", is that code for beating? How badly would you have beaten Amanda to drive your point home? I'm not clear about how much beating a child should have before she learns her lesson. Just a little or a lot?
My mother raised my brother and me since I was six. I saw how hard it was for her to make ends meet as a single income parent. Now, as father of two daughters, I do feel sorry for Amanda and her mother.
Kids make mistakes and Amanda will work for the next two years to pay her fine. Her mother accepted full responsibility for her daughter’s actions.
Perhaps there's no Sainthood for me. Crusherfan beat me to it. No pun(ch) intended. "
cab e-girl wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:27 AM:
cab e-girl wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:30 AM:
Listening wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:33 AM:
napamouth wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:37 AM:
cathyodom wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:40 AM:
napan007 wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:48 AM:
I'm also very happy that they worked out a way to put it all on her... yes she's a minor so Mom is ultimately responsible for paying the fines but she'll be an adult in only two years so it's 100% appropriate to have her bust her own butt to pay the fines. Good learning experience and I wish her all the best. "
steph wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:10 AM:
We all make mistakes; if we can repair the damange and learn a good lesson, then the mistake can cause growth.
This is good justice, where the punishment fits the crime and will lead to restitution and rehab! I'm impressed!
"Amanda" show them how you've grown up. And give your mom a hug for working so hard for you! "
crusherfan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:18 AM:
I still dont think that there should have been a second time.
I would consider underage drinking,which probably leads to under age driving and other crime "Real Crimes".Not laughable at all "
angrytoo wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:55 AM:
vocal-de-local wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:59 AM:
The next morning many strangers were lying all over the floor. My grandpa showed up to pick my brother up for a 49ers game. Ordinarily he was a reserved, very patient man but he let it all out on this morning. People were scared enough to run and hide behind the trees outside!
The moral of this story is DO NOT leave teens alone at a house for very long, no matter how sweet you think they are. Evidentially, they WILL have a party and get into more trouble than you bargained for, especially if you do it often. "
chunk wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:14 AM:
crusherfan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:41 AM:
I do know that that there has been conversation regarding discilpine on these blogs (spanking vs talking).I think that a kid makes decisions based on the consequences and sometimes it takes more than a time out.
Maybe if you thought about your actions more on your timeouts,you would not have been kicked out at 18. See you in church "
sammy wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:49 AM:
Straight Talk wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:20 PM:
Pretty strong statements.
My comment is a reaction to your clear lack of sympathy. I beleive those of us who have sinned (isn't that all of us?) should have some sympathy and forgiveness - how else can we expect to be forgiven?
Regarding physical violence as a learning tool... I'm oposed to it. My mother did not literally"kick" me out of the house. She told me to leave, I did, and I understood why. No need for violence.
I'll be there. ;-) ~ MvG "
darkstar wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:23 PM:
crusherfan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:13 PM:
Fair enough. I dont have allot of sympathy for a kid who makes a mistake,gets caught, and makes the same mistake (inviting 10-12 guest the seond time) a couple of weeks later. Irespect your opinion.I agree there is a diffrence between discipline and abuse.
This would be a long debate. See you at BM2 :-)
Darkstar :LOL "
crusherfan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:17 PM:
good advice, try it. "
freeport56 wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:41 PM:
Angelina Gervasio wrote on Aug 21, 2008 4:44 PM:
Have you ever considered having all these teens just do $2,000 worth of community service (cleaning parks, planting trees, cleaning up graffiti) as their punishment? Why do you have the parents pay? Amazingly enough, having the parents pay does NOT teach the kid a lesson!
~Not Your Average Kid "
Christabelle wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:14 PM:
Also, why didn't the big tough boys who brought the booze help out with the fines?
Amanda's mother has all my sympathy.
Amanda will surely learn her lesson this time.
Napa...you have a good system here. About time parents were held responsible. But, the kids who brought the booze should also be held liable for the fine.s imposed rightfully so. "
i4aneye wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:25 PM:
Napa_Native wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:32 PM:
As I read this article I thought I was reading about another town completely. I applaud the council for their demonstration of compassion for the mother and sense of responsibility in teaching this girl a lesson.
I have seen too many young lives cut short because of alcohol. I have pulled their lifeless bodies from vehicles at all hours of the day and night. I have had to tell parents of their child's demise. Personally I think each of these kids should spend some time with the Coroner so they can see what waits for them if they continue down their current path.
I am not casting stones. I am only trying to help someone avoid seeing what I have seen. "
Straight Talk wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:22 PM:
To Angelina Gervasio... excellent point and one that was not mentioned in the article. There was considerable discussiuon about community service. I cannot verify this, but was told, that there is not a great deal of encouragement for teens to volunteer in Napa. I still find that hard to believe but that is what we were told.
Amanda can and was encouraged to volunteer for local organizations - it's her choice - and if she does she will get credit for her time. Great comment.
Napa_Native... thank you. I'm not thin-skinned but do appreciate a positive comment now and again. Much appreciated.
crusherfan - fair enough. ;-) See you.
Finally, I have been on this committee for some time now and the Register has reported on this issue in the past. Fact is, there are times when the kids who live in the house did not start the party. Other kids get the word out that the parents are not home and "voila!" instant party. Many of these kids want the uninvited guests to leave and are too scared too call the police.
If there is a discussion parents should have with all the kids it's this: Any time there is a problem or trouble and the kids need help, ALWAYS call for help. The police are here to help. Kids and parents will be much better off if the police are notified.
~ MvG "
jmo wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:38 PM:
Let's move on to another topic. "
dreluvwine26 wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:06 PM:
mamyt wrote on Aug 22, 2008 7:39 AM:
cathyodom wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:03 AM:
LocalChick wrote on Aug 22, 2008 11:00 AM:
Off the top of my head, may I suggest:
Napa Food Bank--they need people to help sort the food, package the bulk items, etc.
Peer Court--this is an amazing program for first time offenders who plead guilty. It is the sentencing of real cases and they use teens as the lawyers, bailiff, and jurors. They also need teens on the planning committee.
The Salvation Army is always needing volunteers. You can serve meals on holidays through them @ 1st Presbyterian Church. 1st Pres. also hosts The Table, although that may be during school hours.
If someone is really stuck for volunteer activities, they can join Interact at school. It is the high school version of Rotary and they specialize in community service projects. You make new friends, your age, and are giving back to the community. Some of the things Interact did when I was involved was a beautification project for the campus and organizing a team for Relay for Life.
It disheartens me to think that people are saying teens aren't encouraged to volunteer in Napa. I realize many locals hate Napa youth, but with positive activities such as volunteering, they won't be hanging out in parking lots or "causing trouble". I urge the members of the committee to do their research about community organizations that need volunteers before deciding to not include them in "punishments" for offenses. Many of these places can't run without volunteers. "
Sandra wrote on Aug 24, 2008 12:11 AM:
In both instances, her mother was away." HER MOTHER WAS AWAY! Away where? At work, gone for the weekend, what? The register did not make this clear, as usual....If your child is not responsible enough to take care of themselves, then they should not be left alone, period. If I had needed to leave my 15 year old home alone, then you can bet a trusted neighbor would know my child was alone, and be asked to put a stop to any nonsense. My child would also know the neighbor was on watch. Geez...we were all teenagers, we know what we tried to do, and many of us succeeded in doing...How can we be so ignorant as parents? Why would you set your child up to make an idiotic decision? Why would you want to be responsible for not only endangering your own child, but other parents children? Why would you want to make it easy for your child to act as "Amanda" acted? Where is the common sense? "
steph wrote on Aug 24, 2008 11:45 AM:
But the truth is, we don't know the truth, so we can't condemn the mom. Either way, I hope the mom and "Amanda" learned a lesson and will be more responsible to one another and their community.
I'm so impressed with the city officials who worked out this small-town agreement for reparations. It's justice that fits, that is less punitive, less monolithic, less zero-tolerance, and more compassionate and rehabilitative. Wow!
I'm curious, is there a name for this "court"? "
get a life wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:37 PM:
I concur with the majority, that this is a great town that we live in, how awesome that we are teaching instead of punishing, in that they are giving Amanda a chance to learn from her mistakes!!! What an awesome group to think outside the box for a change!! Thanks MVG, etc all! "
anticommie wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:32 PM:
sobersister wrote on Sep 1, 2008 5:35 PM:
Also, why isn't this listed on NAPA NEWS as the most viewed and most commented with 49+ on the front page on the web?? HHHMMMNN??
There will be more to this as I am personally going to SPEAK under PUBLIUC COMMENT at the CITY COUNCIL next meeting they have! "