The University of Colorado at Boulder and the city of Boulder today announced a second pilot party registration program designed to help students become better informed about how to host responsible gatherings while giving police and neighbors other options for resolving noise complaints. The fall program will run Friday and Saturday nights from Aug. 20 to Sept. 25.
"The Boulder Police Department is excited to work with the university again on the Party Registration Program. We believe it can be beneficial for the community and the students and we are hopeful for the continued success of the program," said Cmdr. Curtis Johnson, who oversees swing and night shift officers.
The first pilot program ran from April 16 to May 8 and resulted in 14 registered parties. One party received a noise complaint and no parties received a second complaint or required police response, according to Susan Stafford, director of Off-Campus Student Services. Eight of the parties were on the Hill, three were near Table Mesa and three were in East Aurora.
"Our desire with this project is for students to understand that this is a tool to help them keep their parties safe and from being unnecessarily shut down," said Allison Foley, CU Student Government vice president for external affairs. "We want our fellow students to have the opportunity to have a great time at their parties while giving the neighborhood and the police the peace of mind that the party will be safe and under control. It truly is a win-win for all parties involved."
Under the pilot program, CU students register a party in advance with Off-Campus Student Services. When hosts sign up, they are given educational materials outlining neighborhood concerns and their responsibilities as a party host.
If a noise complaint is called in during a registered party, police dispatch will notify the student hosts by calling the phone number provided and the host has a 20-minute window to break up the party. If a second complaint is received, an officer will be dispatched to the address and a citation will be issued once a violation is confirmed. Students who receive a violation may be subject to penalties in Municipal Court, through restorative justice programs, and the Office of Student Conduct at CU.
Officers will continue to respond promptly to emergency situations and allegations of criminal conduct that involve more than noise or neighborhood disturbances. The 20-minute grace period will not apply in these cases.
Students can register in Off-Campus Student Services in University Memorial Center room 313 Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for a party on Friday or Saturday nights. Students must register in person and show their Buff OneCard. Registration is open to all CU students in neighborhoods throughout the City of Boulder. Students who register will receive a Smart Party Guide, a flier on host liability, a party checklist and information on CU's NightRide program, as well as nonalcoholic beverages, snacks and trash bags.
Evaluation of whether the program should continue will be conducted throughout the pilot, and party registration may continue past Sept. 25 if it is determined to be working. The program will be evaluated through surveys with students who have registered, surveys in cases of complaints, and community input.
Community members who wish to provide feedback during the pilot should call CU Off-Campus Student Services at 303-492-7053.
