Police: Don’t bother going to the Howl if drinking that night
Capt. Steve Milne of the USU Police Department issued a warning to anyone who may be attending the Howl on Saturday night.
“If you are planning on drinking that night, whether you are of age or not, do not come to the Howl, because you will either be arrested or you will be removed,” he said.
USU police are ready and able to cover any alcohol related disturbances as well as any other criminal activity especially on Saturday night before, during and after the Howl celebration.
Milne said there will be 26 officers working the event. That’s not including Logan City Police’s alcohol shift. The state will be coming up with their own DUI shift. There will also be student volunteers from the USU/SA who will be the eyes and ears of the police during events.
“We will have officers working the the entrance area,” Milne said. “We will have officers throughout the area in the high-volume areas such as the Fieldhouse and the Ballroom, but again, they will be spread throughout the area for it allows us to respond to an event quickly.”
People who are underage and caught with alcohol could be fined $525, according to Milne. Also, they could be charged with as a Class B misdemeanor, meaning a possibility of six months in jail and up to a $6,000 fine.
Ryan Barfuss, the prevention specialist with the Student Health and Wellness Center, said underage drinkers would get a fine and court-ordered alcohol safety education.
“The court will also mandate MIPs (minors in possession) to come here and receive education,” he said. “They would also be on probation, have the possibility of being on their record, do community service project and attend a program run out of the jail.”
All this adds up to at least 10 hours of educational training where individuals learnabout high-risk and low-risk drinking and the “0-1-2-3 rule,” which is zero drinks if someone is underage, pregnant or at other high risk factors, one drink an hour if you are of age and two to three drinks a day.
Milne said USU Police want everyone at the Howl to have a good time and be safe at the same time. However, a person who is caught underage drinking will be faced with an expensive evening and a good chance of handcuffs and iron bars.
Fun mixed with safety is the primary concern of the campus police, and any students who witnesses drinking at the event or see individuals who are showing signs of alcohol poisoning are asked to report it to the nearest officer, he said. Such signs include clammy skin, vomiting and smelling of alcohol.
“Rule of thumb if you’re planning on drinking whether you’re of age or not stay away: We don’t want to see you there. If we do see you there, there will be a good chance you’re going to be arrested, and it’s going to be a costly night,” Milne said.
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