Eugene, Ore.- The Social Host Ordinance, Eugene’s new house party law, has already been put into action by the Eugene Police Department effecting students who host parties within the Eugene city limits that become unruly.

DuckTV News talked to EPD spokes person Kelly Putnam about the specificities of the ordinance: “The ordinance specifically defines an unruly gathering as an incident at a residence where alcohol is being served or consumed and at least two other crimes are occurring in addition to the fact that there is alcohol present.”

The Social Host Ordinance, which was passed this January, has received a great deal of outrage and criticism from students due to the strictness and steep fines that come along with the new law. It was more than a month after the law went into effect when the EPD made their first real crackdown on party goers April 8th.

Noise complaints lead the Eugene Police Department to seventeenth and Mill late that Monday night. Tenants were cited by the police for hosting an unruly party consisting illegal activities such as underage drinking and prohibited noise. With two students arrested and seven renters cited for hosting, the fines ranged from $350-$700.

Although the host of the party is not required to open the door for the police, the EPD has the ability to issue a search warrant within just fifteen minutes after entry has been refused if there is enough evidence to believe that illegal activities are happening inside. While students are still fighting the severity of the Social Host Ordinance fines, the town hall continues to present the ordinance as a war of building responsibility while creating a strong foundation of communication between the EPD and UO students.

Watch the video here: Social Host Ordinance 

Kelcie Goetsch, DuckTV News