File # CN240200006, WI240200023, WI240200024, WI240200025, WI240200026

Details:

On Saturday, January 20, 2024, agents of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), along with Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, cited one clerk for selling alcohol to minors in the city of Canyon Lake at a business within the 24000 block of Canyon Lake Drive. The actions were the result of a minor decoy operation in which minors under the direct supervision of department agents attempted to purchase alcohol from four retail licensees in Riverside County.

Those who sold to the minor face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business where alcohol was sold to a minor. That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license.

Additionally, deputies conducted a minor decoy Shoulder Tap Operation. The minors, at a retail store licensee, attempted to have several adults furnish them with alcohol. The operation resulted in four suspects being arrested and citations issued for furnishing alcohol to a minor in the city of Wildomar. A decoy shoulder tap operation targets adults who purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.

“Minor Decoy operations hold accountable those who sell alcohol to minors,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “Keeping alcohol away from youth is a priority.”

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent.  When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is an agency of the government of the state of California charged with the regulation of alcoholic beverages. ABC encourages licensees to sign up for ABC’s Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) training free of charge. Licensees and their employees can now take the training online. They can also sign up for training in person in a classroom setting.

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File # N/A

Details:

Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, Calif. – Riverside Sheriff’s Department reminds drivers to plan ahead and celebrate the holiday safely and responsibly.

This weekend and through Monday, July 4, the Riverside Sheriff’s Department will have additional deputies on patrol looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

In 2020, nearly 500 people were killed in crashes throughout the country during the Fourth of July weekend. Of those deadly crashes, 41% involved alcohol.

“If you plan on drinking this weekend, plan on a safe and sober ride home “Think of your loved ones, friends, and family before thinking about driving after you’ve had a few drinks.”

According to AAA Southern California, more than five million Californians will travel over the 4th of July holiday. With most traveling by car, allow extra time to get to your destination.

While some festivities may include alcohol, driving under the influence also includes impairment from prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana. Do your research and be informed about how certain drugs may affect your driving ability. 

If you are hosting friends and family for barbecues and watching fireworks shows, offer nonalcoholic drinks for designated sober drivers and monitor who is drinking. If you see people leaving who have been drinking, offer to have them stay the night or make arrangements for them to take a sober ride home.

If you see someone who appears impaired or driving recklessly, call 9-1-1.

Click or tap here to enter text. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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As a result of this operation, merchants from Hemet, Valle Vista, Idyllwild and Anza were all found to be in compliance.  Three out of five merchants in San Jacinto were in violation of selling tobacco, tobacco paraphernalia and cannabis THC to minors. Two merchants were issued misdemeanor citations for selling tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia to a person under 21 years age and released on a promise to appear. One merchant was arrested for a felony of selling cannabis THC to a person under the age of 21 and was booked into the Cois Bird Detention Center and being held on $25,000 bail. 

Subjects arrested:

1.  Najdat Diab, a 21-year-old male, arrested for 11361(b) H&S and booked at CBDC (Felony)
2.  Mohamed Hemida, a 69-year-old male, cited for 308(a)(1)(A)(i) PC and released at the scene (Misdemeanor)
3. Carrie Ruditis, a 51-year-old female, cited for 308(a)(1)(A)(i) PC and released at the scene (Misdemeanor)

The goal of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is to keep all of our citizens safe while also improving the quality of life for those residing within the community. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has a zero-tolerance policy for these offenses. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy Riddle at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 791-3400. If you suspect illegal activity in your area, please contact your local Sheriff’s Station.  The Hemet Sheriff’s Station can be reached at (951) 791-3400 and the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station can be reached at (951) 766-2400.  Criminal activity can also be reported through the We-Tip Crime Reporting Hotline at (909) 987-5005 or https://wetip.com.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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