Fines for alcohol consumption on the beach and other public areas in Hermosa Beach will be tripled to about $300 from Monday through the Fourth of July weekend, officials said.
The Hermosa Beach Police Department also expected to triple the number of officers patrolling the popular beach promenade, known as "The Strand," according to police Lt. Tom Thompson.
"We'll have 100 law enforcement down here, including 50 L.A. (County) Sheriff Department deputies to help us control the crowd," said Thompson.
"The past Fourth of July's, we've had great turn-outs of people coming down here to party and enjoy themselves," he said. "But a lot of them turn out to be too rambunctious, too boisterous, getting in fights and drinking too much."
Thompson had been making rounds to local bars to make sure they understood the city's zero-tolerance policy, Friday.
"You going to be checking IDs?" he asked Daniel Astorga, a manager at Hennessey's Tavern.
"Absolutely," Astorga responded. "We have security guards up front, one at every exit, making sure they check thoroughly."
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Last year, police responded to 16 alcohol consumption-related injuries.
"There were 11 people who went to the hospital, specifically, they were down and out due to alcohol," said Thompson. "They were just comatose, and they had to be taken to the hospital."
New laws governing underage drinking will also be enforced, according to a news release from the city.
Teens under the age of 18 can lose their drivers’ license for a year for an "open container" conviction, regardless of whether they drive drunk.
Homeowners were also being asked to help police by controlling their own Independence Day celebrations and keeping them contained to their own properties.
