After hearing from about 40 residents, the Laguna Beach City Council agreed this week to move forward with a controversial law that penalizes parents who allow minors to use alcohol and drugs in their homes.
The so-called social host ordinance, which was sent back to city administrators for minor revisions, would require first-offenders to take an alcohol-awareness class and levy $1,000 fines for subsequent misdemeanor-level offenses.
If passed at an upcoming second reading, Laguna Beach would join Irvine, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo as Orange County's fourth city to pass such a law. About 100 California cities have similar laws, according to Laguna Beach Police Chief Paul Workman.
Many speakers who addressed the council were against the law, which they say doesn't properly address the larger issue of teen drinking and drug use.
Opponents also asserted concerns about the law sidestepping Fourth Amendment rights protecting against unreasonable searches and a decrease in necessary 911 calls because callers would be afraid to alert police because adults could be held accountable.