City Triples Alcohol Fines for Fourth of July

The City of Hermosa Beach announced last week that police patrols and alcohol fines will drastically increase for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

In addition to hiring 18 LA County Sheriffs Department personnel for increased street and beach patrols, the city will triple fines for public alcohol violations from $100 to $300 starting June 30 and ending July 4, the city said.

"The City of Hermosa Beach has always been a welcoming host, sharing of its great beach environment, but visitors have a responsibility to be good guests in return and neighbors need to respect neighbors," Hermosa Beach Mayor Jeff Duclos said in the release.

During last year's Fourth of July celebrations, with a beer bottle near Second Street and the Strand in Hermosa Beach, police reports showed.  None of the stabbings was life threatening.

During the June 12 City Council meeting, Hermosa Beach Interim Police Chief Steve Johnson presented the department's Fourth of July operational plan and said he did not want a repeat of last year's stabbings.

"We are going to be providing firm, but diplomatic enforcement strategies," said Johnson. "This is a celebration of our country, but it also has to be a celebration of our country where everybody can come here and enjoy the weekend."

Johnson said that during the holiday, all Hermosa Beach police officers will be on hand and patrols will pay particular attention to the area surrounding Second Street and the beach. Police officers and additional sheriffs deputies will patrol the area on foot, horseback, and motorcycle.

"We are going to be ambassadors to the community in our law enforcement roles," said Johnson.  "The last thing I want to have is any sort of black mark on this city due to the enforcement actions of our police department."

The city also plans on placing floodlights along Pier Plaza, which will turn on at the conclusion of the Redondo Beach fireworks show to encourage people to leave the area in a safe manner, Johnson said.

"We want this to be a great time for everybody... We just can't let things get out of hand," said Johnson.