Chapter 791 Oregon Laws 2001

 

AN ACT

 

HB 2007

 

Relating to sales of alcoholic beverages; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 30.960, 165.805 and 471.430.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

          SECTION 1. Section 2 of this 2001 Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 471.

 

          SECTION 2. (1) The Oregon Liquor Control Commission shall by rule develop uniform standards for minor decoy operations used to investigate licensees and agents operating stores on behalf of the commission under ORS 471.750 for violations of the laws of this state prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to minors. Uniform standards established by the commission under this section apply to all investigations conducted by the commission that use minor decoys. The commission shall encourage all law enforcement agencies of this state to use the uniform standards established under this section for minor decoy operations conducted by the law enforcement agencies.

          (2) To the greatest extent possible, the uniform standards established by the commission under this section:

          (a) Shall be the same for minor decoy operations conducted by the commission and for minor decoy operations conducted by law enforcement agencies of this state; and

          (b) Shall provide for coordination between the commission and law enforcement agencies of this state in conducting minor decoy operations.

          (3) The uniform standards established by the commission under this section shall provide that minor decoy operations must be conducted on either a random or a targeted basis in cities with populations of 20,000 or more. Random minor decoy operations shall cover a range of retail outlets. Targeted minor decoy operations may be conducted for a single licensee or agent, but may be used only if there is a documented compliance problem with the specific licensee or agent that is the target of the operation. For the purpose of implementing standards for random minor decoy operations under this subsection, the commission shall by rule adopt a methodology that produces, to the greatest extent possible, an equal chance that any licensee or agent will be subject to a minor decoy operation.

          (4) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the failure of the commission or of a law enforcement agency to follow uniform standards established by the commission under this section is not grounds for challenging any complaint, citation or conviction for violation of the laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors.

          (5) In determining whether to impose sanctions based on multiple violations of the laws of this state prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to minors, the commission may not consider any complaint filed against a licensee for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor, citation issued to a licensee for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor or conviction of a licensee for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor if the complaint, citation or conviction arose out of a minor decoy operation that was not conducted pursuant to the uniform standards established by the commission under this section.

          (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commission may not consider any sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor that results from a minor decoy operation that is not conducted in compliance with the standards established under this section for the purpose of imposing any civil penalty against a licensee, making a decision on the renewal, suspension or cancellation of a license issued under this chapter or otherwise sanctioning a licensee for the sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor.

          (7) The commission shall give notice of the uniform standards established under this section to all law enforcement agencies of this state that conduct minor decoy operations.

 

          SECTION 3. ORS 165.805 is amended to read:

          165.805. (1) A person commits the crime of misrepresentation of age by a minor if:

          (a) Being less than a certain, specified age, the person knowingly purports to be of any age other than the true age of the person with the intent of securing a right, benefit or privilege which by law is denied to persons under that certain, specified age; or

          (b) Being unmarried, the person knowingly represents that the person is married with the intent of securing a right, benefit or privilege which by law is denied to unmarried persons.

          (2) Misrepresentation of age by a minor is a Class C misdemeanor.

          (3) In addition to and not in lieu of any other penalty established by law, a person who, using a driver permit or license or other identification issued by the Department of Transportation of this state or its equivalent in another state, commits the crime of misrepresentation of age by a minor in order to purchase or consume alcoholic liquor may be required to perform community service and the court shall order that the person’s driving privileges and right to apply for driving privileges be suspended for a period not to exceed one year. If a court has issued an order denying driving privileges under this section, the court, upon petition of the person, may withdraw the order at any time the court deems appropriate. The court notification to the department under this subsection may include a recommendation that the person be granted a hardship permit under ORS 807.240 if the person is otherwise eligible for the permit.

          (4) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to any person acting under the direction of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission or under the direction of state or local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating possible violations of laws prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to persons who are under a certain, specified age.

          (5) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to a person under the age of 21 years who is acting under the direction of a licensee for the purpose of investigating possible violations by employees of the licensee of laws prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to persons who are under the age of 21 years.

 

          SECTION 4. ORS 471.430 is amended to read:

          471.430. (1) No person under the age of 21 years shall attempt to purchase, purchase or acquire alcoholic liquor. Except when such minor is in a private residence accompanied by the parent or guardian of the minor and with such parent’s or guardian’s consent, no person under the age of 21 years shall have personal possession of alcoholic liquor.

          (2) For the purposes of this section, personal possession of alcoholic liquor includes the acceptance or consumption of a bottle of such liquor, or any portion thereof or a drink of such liquor. However, this section does not prohibit the acceptance or consumption by any person of sacramental wine as part of a religious rite or service.

          (3) Except as authorized by rule or as necessitated in an emergency, no person under the age of 21 years shall enter or attempt to enter any portion of a licensed premises that is posted or otherwise identified as being prohibited to the use of minors.

          (4) Any person who violates subsection (1) or (3) of this section commits a Class B violation.

          (5) In addition to and not in lieu of any other penalty established by law, a person under the age of 21 years [of age] who violates subsection (1) of this section through misrepresentation of age may be required to perform community service and the court shall order that the person’s driving privileges and right to apply for driving privileges be suspended for a period not to exceed one year. If a court has issued an order denying driving privileges under this section, the court, upon petition of the person, may withdraw the order at any time the court deems appropriate. The court notification to the Department of Transportation under this subsection may include a recommendation that the person be granted a hardship permit under ORS 807.240 if the person is otherwise eligible for the permit.

          (6) In addition to and not in lieu of any penalty established by law, the court:

          (a) Shall order a person who is at least 18 years of age and not more than 21 years of age, who is convicted of violation of this section and who has been convicted of violation of this section at least once before when the person was at least 18 years of age, to undergo assessment and treatment as provided in ORS 471.432.

          (b) May order a person who is at least 18 years of age and not more than 21 years of age and who is convicted of violation of this section to undergo assessment and treatment as provided in ORS 471.432.

          (7) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to a person under the age of 21 years who is acting under the direction of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission or under the direction of state or local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating possible violations of laws prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to persons who are under the age of 21 years.

          (8) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to a person under the age of 21 years who is acting under the direction of a licensee for the purpose of investigating possible violations by employees of the licensee of laws prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to persons who are under the age of 21 years.

 

          SECTION 5. ORS 30.960 is amended to read:

          30.960. (1) Notwithstanding ORS 30.950 and 471.130, no licensee, permittee or social host shall be liable to third persons injured by or through persons [not having reached] under the age of 21 years [of age] who obtained alcoholic beverages from the licensee, permittee or social host unless it is demonstrated that a reasonable person would have determined that identification should have been requested or that the identification exhibited was altered or did not accurately describe the person to whom the alcoholic liquor was sold or served.

          (2) A person who is under 21 but at least 18 years of age and who through misrepresentation of age causes an Oregon Liquor Control Commission licensee to be fined or have a license suspended or revoked shall be civilly liable for damages sustained by the licensee. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action under this subsection.

          (3) Subsection (2) of this section does not apply to a person under the age of 21 years who is acting under the direction of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission or under the direction of state or local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating possible violations of laws prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to persons who are under the age of 21 years.

          (4) Subsection (2) of this section does not apply to a person under the age of 21 years who is acting under the direction of a licensee for the purpose of investigating possible violations by employees of the licensee of laws prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to persons who are under the age of 21 years.

 

          SECTION 6. The amendments to ORS 30.960, 165.805 and 471.430 by sections 3, 4 and 5 of this 2001 Act apply to all conduct of persons acting under the direction of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, under the direction of a person licensed under ORS chapter 471 or under the direction of state or local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of investigating possible violations of laws prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to persons who are under a certain, specified age, without regard to whether the conduct occurred before, on or after the effective date of this 2001 Act.

 

Approved by the Governor July 18, 2001

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 18, 2001

 

Effective date January 1, 2002

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