The Amherst Police Department Receives $10,000 Underage Alcohol Enforcement Award

The Amherst Police Department was awarded $10,000 in grant funding as part of the 2012 Underage Alcohol Enforcement Grant Program from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). This program provides overtime funds for enforcement of underage alcohol laws through activities such as compliance checks at liquor serving establishments, party patrols, surveillance patrols, and Cops in Shops.

The Amherst Police Department intends to use this funding to assign extra patrols through the spring to enforce the open container of alcohol bylaw and underage drinking laws.

During Fiscal Year 2011, Amherst Police Officers charged 788 persons with alcohol related offenses, which included 368 persons with being minors in possession of alcohol and 23 with possession of false identification. The Amherst Police Department has found that strict enforcement of liquor law violations has assisted in improving the quality of living for those who reside in the center business district and in areas which are densely populated with college students. For additional information on these increased enforcement efforts, please contact Captain Jennifer Gundersen via email or at (413) 259-3010.

For additional information on impaired driving or this grant program, check out the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division website .