California is Violating the Fourth Amendment with New Underage Drinking Law

The state of California is working to cut underage drinking in the state, a noble idea. However, a new law may stop there at furthering their noble effort. It appears California law enforcement are being given the right to overlook that inconvenient Fourth Amendment, just like Department of Homeland Security with the TSA has, in their quest to bust teenagers who are drinking.

The Daily Nexus reports, "To cut down on underage drinking, county officials will begin enforcement of a new ordinance next month that allows officers entry into residencies if they suspect minors are drinking on the premises."

Suspect? Who makes that call and on what grounds? Underage drinking happens in loud party atmospheres, but it also occurs in quiet places behind closed doors as well. This law seems a little vague for the comfort of residents in California if you ask me.

The law is called the the Social Host Liability Ordinance, and it was passed to discourage adults from purchasing alcohol for minors. It gets worse.

The ordinance defines a “host” as any person either owning, renting or in control of the property, and a “party, gathering or event” as a social gathering of five or more persons, at least one of whom is a minor. Hosts violating the ordinance for the first time will be fined $500 and required to complete a mandatory educational class. Second-offenders are handed a $1,000 fine and subsequent offenses result in a $2,000 fine.

Fifth District Supervisor Joseph Centeno said the ordinance aims to hold residents and landlords accountable for what occurs in their homes.

Since when is a gathering of five people considered a party? So if you rent out an apartment to underage college kids and they have a few people over totaling five or more, the owner of the apartment will be cited for the underage drinking? What crime are the guilty of? Participating in the free market?