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Pricey fines looming for some students

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Also by Lynn Heidmann:

Library Mall to add Subway, coffee shop (March 21, 2007)
Ticket dispute ends in lottery (May 3, 2007)
UW vet student earns book treat (March 9, 2007)

by Lynn Heidmann

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

While the hype surrounding Saturday's Mifflin Street Block Party winds down, several houses are still in the process of receiving citations and fines.

The residents of 518 Mifflin St. will be among the unfortunate recipients of numerous fines. Capt. Mary Schauf of the Madison Police Department said the house has not yet been cited, so the exact amount of fines the residents will receive is uncertain.

But Schauf noted the residents were serving a large number of underage people and the punishment could be severe.

"If you sell [alcohol] to adults, that's a problem because you are selling without a permit," she said. "But it's a completely different situation when you are selling to a bunch of kids, and that's why the fines vary from house to house."

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, whose district encompasses Mifflin Street, said police are allegedly charging the residents at 518 with five counts of party violations each. The fines include selling alcohol without a license, $676 for one count; knowingly selling alcohol to underage people, $361 for one count; and possession of alcohol by a minor, $172 for the first count.

There are six people living in the house, but several neighbors might also be included in the charges, Verveer added.

"The allocation I heard from the police was some underage drinkers had admitted to paying for cups at that party," he said. "They told me each of the guys living there [will be] charged, but it is unclear to me whether or not neighboring residents are involved as well."

Schauf said she believes people come to the block party thinking there are different rules about underage drinking laws, which can lead to problems when they receive citations.

To decrease the number of such citations, Schauf said officers try to warn partygoers about the rules beforehand.

Yet every year, Schauf added, there are several houses selling alcohol illegally, and officers must be consistent about enforcement.

"We try to educate people up front and we try to remind people of the rules," she said, "but if [residents] are essentially violating ordinances, we will come back later, and that is when you see the fines charged."