Penalties upped for unlawful drinking, smoking, noise in Hermosa Beach

Police on horseback patrol the Second Street beach. File photo.
Police on horseback patrol the Second Street beach. File photo.

Police on horseback patrol the Second Street beach. File photo.

People drinking in public on the holidays, and violating noise limits, public smoking regulations and leash laws  can be prosecuted as misdemeanor criminals under a new policy approved Tuesday by the Hermosa Beach City Council.

Police officials told the council on Wednesday that the changes are designed to deal with recalcitrant repeat offenders.

The changes bump up various violations from infractions to misdemeanor crimes. Police will continue to issue citations, as they do for infractions, but the reclassification will allow the city prosecutor to seek as much as a $1,000 fine and one year in jail for some offenders.

On a year-round basis, the reclassification covers violations of regulations regarding animals, noise, garbage collection and disposal, and smoking.

Hermosa bans smoking on the Strand, the city pier, the popular Pier Plaza, outdoor dining areas, the beach, city parking lots including the downtown parking garage, and city parks including the greenbelt that runs north-and-south through the town.

Police officials stressed to the council that violations of the residential noise ordinance have been troublesome in Hermosa.

The new policy also creates a “holiday safety enhancement zone” west of Valley Drive, where drinking in public becomes a misdemeanor on Memorial Day, Labor Day, the Fourth of July and New Year’s Day, when revelers flock to Hermosa.

When the holidays fall on weekends, the weekend is covered by the policy.

The council approved the changes by a 4-1 vote.

Councilwoman Nanette Barragan cast the dissenting vote. She said she supports the Police Department’s effort to step up enforcement, but questioned the smoking portion of the policy that serves to “equate smoking on the plaza with DUI.”

Mayor Peter Tucker said the changes will help deal with “chronic” violators.

Councilman Hany Fangary said the targets of the new policy will be repeat offenders.

Councilwoman Carolyn Petty said she was confident the greater prosecutorial latitude would not be abused.

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