Cuestonian

Issue date: 10/12/09 Section: News

Cuesta students gather to listen to SLO Chief of Police Deborah Linden.

Chief of Police Deborah Linden spoke to Cuesta students about the new ordinances concerning renters licensing, unruly gatherings, noise violations, curfews, safety enhancement time periods and Greek parties.

A crowd of roughly 40 students gathered on Tuesday morning despite the pouring rain. ASCC hosted the event to help inform students of the new ordinances that are being looked at by San Luis Obispo police and city officials.

The goal of the new ordinances is to make SLO neighborhoods as nice and friendly as possible. They are hoping the ordinances will reduce the number of noise and party complaints.

Linden repeatedly said that the goal of the ordinances was to create a safe, respectful living environment in SLO.

Renters licensing aims to help monitor renters to ensure that tenants are living in safe conditions and to ensure a high quality of housing.

Unruly gathering is perhaps the most debated issue that many students have heard rumors about. The ordinance is planned to increase fines for large parties that repeatedly happen at the same residence.

The ordinances will protect police officers' right to discretion when evaluating reports, so there can be a difference seen in fines for having a noisy barbecue with three people talking loudly compared to raging parties.

Noise violations will remain mostly the same but the police are looking into other ways to make sure that hosts open the door and talk to the police.

The curfew planned, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., will only affect high school students under the age of 18. College students under 18 will be allowed out past curfew with proof of college attendance such as a student ID.

Currently, no official decisions have been made on the ordinances and are not expected to begin until January.

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