Students are quickly learning about a new city ordinance, especially after several nuisance party citations were issued last weekend.

Codified ordinance 7239, enacted Aug. 1, prohibits nuisance parties in Bowling Green. A nuisance party is defined as one with any of the following: disorderly conduct; illegal open container; public urination; unlawful consumption of alcohol; sale or furnishing of alcohol to an underage person; possession or consumption of alcohol by an underage person; illegal use of a controlled substance; public indecency; littering; property damage; unlawfully loud noise; vehicular traffic; or obstructing the free flow of traffic.

Anyone cited is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and could receive up to a $150 fine. If another citation occurs within six months, the person is guilty of a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and could receive a maximum $250 fine and imprisonment for less than a year.

Under Codified ordinance 7240, enacted at the same time, any residence that receives two citations in six months is deemed a nuisance property. The landlord is notified after the first conviction, and is required to take further action if a second conviction occurs. A redemption plan must be set up or the landlord could face a $500 fine.

According to Mike Zickar, ward 2 city councilman, last weekend was the first time anyone was cited for the nuisance party ordinance. The Bowling Green Police Division issued 15 citations.

“They’re in the preliminary stages right now, I haven’t prosecuted anyone yet,” City Prosecutor Matt Reger said. “I am certain I will be prosecuting them soon.”

Many of the nuisance parties last weekend were on Wooster St. Other nuisance parties occurred on Ridge St., Clough St. and Court St.

Several of the parties included disorderly conduct, illegal open containers, public urination, underage consumption of alcohol and furnishing alcohol to underage people.

According to Lieutenant Brad Biller of the Bowling Green Police Division, those cited for a nuisance property violation seem to be complying with authorities.

“From what I’ve heard from the officers that issued those citations, the people that have received those citations realize they were in violation and for the most part have recognized their responsibilities,” Biller said.

Once a nuisance party citation is issued, Reger’s office enters arrests related to that property into a database.

The police division responds to complaints that center on disorderly conduct and underage drinking. They have also increased the number of officers on duty during peak activity times.

Although the police division issued 20 nuisance party citations this weekend, it may be too early to tell how students will respond to the ordinance. Since the ordinance was enacted Aug. 1, and many students returned last week, they may be unaware of the ordinance.

“I don’t know how many of the students knew about it,” Reger said. “They’ve just gotten back. They’re still having large parties is what I can say. It’s just not been long enough to get a measure on that.”

Although some students may not know much about the nuisance party ordinance now, they might notice it being pushed this school year. Reger was receiving concerns about parties from the police division, and modeled the ordinances after that of Miami University in Oxford.

The purpose of the new ordinances is to increase communication between landlords, tenants and residents.

Landlords at first believed the ordinances were unfair, because it seemed they were being held accountable for their tenant’s actions. However, city officials say the landlords now seem to be satisfied with the ordinances.

“I think the landlords are in general support of it, because it gives them the opportunity to hold their tenants accountable as their responsibility as landlords,” Biller said.

The police division has spoke with some landlords about possible remediation plans incase one of their properties becomes a nuisance property. No remediation plans have been needed yet, and Biller said he hopes the lessons of a first citation will prevent students from receiving their second.

“Through the process of education and judicial process of punishment, we shouldn’t have to go back but if we do we’ll issue another citation,” Biller said. “We expect that will stop them from continuing the behavior that lead to those citations.”