There’s a spot off of Forsten Drive and Hasgate Drive in the Haswell Farms development that you can hike to, but even if you don’t know about it, you’re teenaged son or daughter might.
Most likely they won’t tell you about it either.
Underneath National Grid power lines lies a dirt trail that heads up a steep hill a little less than a quarter mile. At the top of this hill is a place that most every parent wishes wasn’t there.
Hundreds of assorted beer cans lay strewn about, along with a variety of colorful plastic cups and the occasional ping-pong ball. All of the trash is heaped around two fireplaces covered in burned cans, cups, cigarettes, trash and even half-melted patio furniture.
One can follow the beer cans and broken glass that line the path to and from the area, as well as wrappers, containers and other trash.
According to Bethlehem police, the party spot is just one of several throughout town.
We do periodically check these known party spots. There’s several different known locations, said Lt. Thomas Heffernan. `This isn’t a problem just in central Delmar, we have it in Glenmont, Slingerlands, Selkirk and Feura Bush. We cover 52 square miles.`
Heffernan said the department attempts to target specific known spots but that it generally leads to the creation of other party spots in the town. And when the police do come across an underage drinking party in progress, Heffernan said, `When they see officers coming in, the kids run.`
`Quite honestly, it seems when we target these areas it seems to move from one place to the next and then to the next,` he said. `As the geography changes and developments change, the places tend to change, too. Yeah, we’re making a difference because we are breaking up the parties we find, but we encourage people to call.`
Heffernan said the police rely on the community to help contain underage drinking.
`That’s why we ask for the support of the residents and we encourage tips,` Heffernan said. `If you see something, if you hear about a party or if you see lots of cars parked and kids heading into the woods with backpacks, call us. Don’t wait until the next day.`
Besides being illegal, and the obvious health and personal risks involved with underage drinking parties, Heffernan points out that there is also a safety risk for both police and teenagers that many overlook.
`It’s hit or miss for the known spots we patrol, but when we do discover something, in most cases the kids run, which is another concern,` Heffernan said. `It’s dark, and running through the woods at night can be dangerous for my officers and the kids.`
Especially if one is intoxicated, Heffernan said, adding that the situation is made even more dangerous because most of the party areas found by police are located near power lines and waterways.
Another problem police have is being able to make an arrest and charge a minor for underage drinking depending on where the party is taking place. In the Haswell Farm situation, the party spot is located on National Grid property.
Heffernan said the department has to contact the business or corporation that owns the land to ask whether they want to press charges or not.
`I can’t speak for them, but a lot of times [corporations] don’t. It kind of depends on what actually takes place,` Heffernan said. `If there’s damage to their property, they are more likely.`
Private landowners, especially farmers in more rural parts of town, are more likely to press charges, Heffernan said.
`We have had calls from some of the local farmers,` Heffernan said. The large tracts of wooded land and open fields owned by farmers make for attractive party locations that are out of the public’s eye but still relatively close to home, he said.
Some farmers have made complaints that debris, especially aluminum cans and glass, are thrown in fields that are used to grow hay and other crops and can be harmful to livestock, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage if an animal is killed or becomes sick.
Heffernan said police once again rely on the public’s help in the problem because they are more likely to make an arrest when the underage party is held outdoors.
`It’s different when it’s indoors because we can’t just barge into people’s homes,` Heffernan said. `When it’s outside it’s different. If we can observe something going on, then we can do something about it.`
Heffernan said there are volunteer programs set up to combat home parties such as `Parents Who Host, Lose the Most,` as well as a new law being considered by the Albany County Legislature that would charge parents for even knowing about minors consuming alcohol on their property.
Currently parents can only be charged if they are found to be serving alcohol to minors. Heffernan said teenagers caught drinking are usually charged with possession of alcohol by a person under the age of 21, an infraction. They are released on an appearance ticket to appear in town court after they are processed.
Bethlehem Police Chief Louis Corsi said underage drinking at certain spots is a problem that has continued over the years despite the department and the community’s efforts.
`We deal with this issue every year,` Corsi said. `We have a family services unit that specifically deals with this.`
The Bethlehem Police use their school resource officers, who work in the Bethlehem School District, and DARE officers to help educate students and the public about underage drinking, as well as combat the problem head-on by investigating drinking parties.
During the summer months, when school is out, the Bethlehem police send their resource officers on special assignments to check on active party spots and look for new ones.
Bethlehem police also routinely stage `stings` at area businesses, according to Heffernan, by sending in a minor to purchase alcohol and seeing if they asked for identification.
However, education is the best tool to address the problem, according to Heffernan and Corsi.
`It’s a challenge for us,` Heffernan said. `We’ve been doing this for years, and it takes a lot of time and manpower.` “
