150 arrested in California’s largest shoulder tap decoy operation ever. ABC Sacramento and other agencies in California arrested adults who purchased alcohol for minors. Read the story below:
Investigators from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and officers from the Sacramento Police Department joined forces with over 30 law enforcement agencies on Saturday, March 12, 2011. They assembled the largest Shoulder Tap Decoy Operation ever California.
The task force operation resulted in 150 arrests. 115 individuals were cited for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors. Thirty- Five were arrested for other crimes such as public drunkenness, DUI, parole violations and outstanding warrants. The operation was conducted in 17 Northern California counties.
ABC Investigators and local law enforcement conducted a program called a Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation. This can lead to the arrest of adults who purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age. Under the program, a minor under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol.
If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, officers then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
Many of the local operations were funded by the California Alcoholic Beverage Control through the department’s Grant Assistance Program (GAP). ABC is a department of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.