Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz has signed an amendment to Local Law 2 (2014), the county Social Host Law, which has now been strengthened to include the known abuse of drugs on a property as a violation of the law along with known underage drinking. The amended law targets individuals who are 21 years of age or older and knowingly allow the consumption of alcohol or drugs by a minor in their home or other privately owned property.

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, “This law recognizes that underage drug use can have lethal effects, just as underage drinking can. With this amended law Erie County is acting to protect minors and is stating very clearly that anyone who owns or controls a property and permits such activities to take place there will be held responsible under the law. I thank Legislator Dixon, the sponsor of this legislation, for amending the Social Host law to cover drugs as well as alcohol.”

Individuals violating the law will be subject to a fine of $250 for the first offense and $500 for a second offense. A third offense and any subsequent offenses are punishable by a fine of $1,000, a term of imprisonment of one year, or both.  In addition, in accordance with NYS General Obligation Law, the county Social Host law will hold the parents or guardian liable for up to $5,000 worth of damage for the acts of a minor under that guardian’s supervision.

The amended Social Host law can be read here .   

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