Mayor Paul Soglin and other city officials recently introduced a proposal that could allow Madison police to fine both the tenant and the landlord if house parties on and around the UW campus become too rowdy.
According to Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, the proposal could allow police to fine landlords and tenants $100 to $5,000 for penalties such as underage drinking or overcrowding once police have issued a first warning to both parties involved.
The proposal does not change the standard procedure for handling out-of-control house parties. To deal with an out-of-control party, police kick everyone out and ticket the hosts, said Madison Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf.
According to The Wisconsin State Journal, the proposal ""puts a spotlight"" on the presence of kegs. The ordinance would allow police to intervene if an open keg is visible in a house party from a public sidewalk or street.
City officials told The Wisconsin State Journal they hope the proposal's emphasis on keg presence will prevent uninvited guests from flocking to a party with a keg clearly visible from the outside.
According to Woulf, the proposal does not change the existing policy if it's a smaller get-together and the party is under control. Woulf said he thinks the proposal provides more incentive for landlords to monitor their residences and prevent out-of-control situations while encouraging responsible drinking.
""If you have parties with more than 100 random people, problems will happen and it promotes dangerous drinking and situations,"" Woulf said.
Resnick said he is against the proposal because there are already laws and ordinances in the book that ban actions such as overcrowding and disturbing the peace. He also said involving landlords is not the way to address the problems with underage drinking and larger house parties downtown.
""It makes the landlord play babysitter to a number of house parties,"" Resnick said. ""I don't think [the ordinance] in any way addresses the problem the mayor is trying to solve.""
According to Resnick, the proposal still has to go through several committees. There will be opportunities for public input.
