One cited in minor decoy ‘shoulder tap’ operation Saturday
On Saturday, May 9, officers from the Paso Robles Police Department conducted a minor decoy “shoulder tap” operation designed to help reduce youth access to alcohol. This operation involved a minor attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages near several different Paso Robles businesses. The minor was being monitored by undercover officers. This operation took place between the hours of 3 – 9 p.m. 
Police officers conducted this shoulder tap operation which can lead to the arrest of adults who purchase alcohol for people under 21 years old. Under the program, a minor under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy them alcohol. The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, officers then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service.
Twenty-six individuals were contacted near four different businesses, and only one of those individuals agreed to purchase alcohol for the minor decoy, according to the report. That person was issued a citation and released from the scene at 2400 block of Spring Street.
The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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