On Tuesday, Montgomery County Councilmembers toughened legislation to crack down on unlicensed commercial house parties. It passed unanimously at the Council meeting.
This law does not affect personal parties. Instead, it’s directed at parties arranged by commercial outlets, that charge a fee and conducted in neighborhoods, often at individual homes.
“The goal is deterrence. The goal is the party not to happen in the first place,” noted Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, who sponsored the bill along with Councilmember Andrew Friedson.
“We are not going to disrupt the neighborhood life,” Luedtke said.
“These events have disrupted neighborhoods, burdened police and permitting agencies, and jeopardized safety,” Luedtke said. “This bill, which we partnered with permitting officials, law enforcement, and impacted residents to advance, gives us the power to act and respond effectively.”
The events targeted are loud, unlicensed and held for profit at a residential property. Sometimes, the event includes a shuttle bus to bring in paying participants to a home, according to Friedson.
“These are not just disruptive. They are dangerous,” he said. “These are promoted business enterprise,” he said.
“These parties have turned residential homes into promoted nightclubs,” said Friedson. “This legislation will help ensure the punishment for these dangerous and disruptive activities more closely matches the negative impacts so we can protect the safety and well-being of Montgomery County families.”
In the past the parties have led to parking congestion, underage drinking, illegal fireworks and noise disturbances, according to Councilmembers.
Nonprofit and community-based events are exempt from the new law.
To curtail these commercial parties, the county increased fines to up to $5,000. Currently, the fine is $25.
Luedtke and Friedson will hold a press conference Thursday at 12:30 p.m. to further promote the adoption of the law.
