(1) The Oregon Liquor Control Commission shall by rule develop uniform standards for minor decoy operations used to investigate licensees and agents operating stores on behalf of the commission under ORS 471.750 for violations of the laws of this state prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to minors. Uniform standards established by the commission under this section apply to all investigations conducted by the commission that use minor decoys. The commission shall encourage all law enforcement agencies of this state to use the uniform standards established under this section for minor decoy operations conducted by the law enforcement agencies.
(2) To the greatest extent possible, the uniform standards established by the commission under this section:
(a) Shall be the same for minor decoy operations conducted by the commission and for minor decoy operations conducted by law enforcement agencies of this state; and
(b) Shall provide for coordination between the commission and law enforcement agencies of this state in conducting minor decoy operations.
(3) The uniform standards established by the commission under this section shall provide that minor decoy operations must be conducted on either a random or a targeted basis in cities with populations of 20,000 or more. Random minor decoy operations shall cover a range of retail outlets. Targeted minor decoy operations may be conducted for a single licensee or agent, but may be used only if there is a documented compliance problem with the specific licensee or agent that is the target of the operation. For the purpose of implementing standards for random minor decoy operations under this subsection, the commission shall by rule adopt a methodology that produces, to the greatest extent possible, an equal chance that any licensee or agent will be subject to a minor decoy operation.
(4) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the failure of the commission or of a law enforcement agency to follow uniform standards established by the commission under this section is not grounds for challenging any complaint, citation or conviction for violation of the laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors.
(5) In determining whether to impose sanctions based on multiple violations of the laws of this state prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to minors, the commission may not consider any complaint filed against a licensee for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor, citation issued to a licensee for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor or conviction of a licensee for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor if the complaint, citation or conviction arose out of a minor decoy operation that was not conducted pursuant to the uniform standards established by the commission under this section.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commission may not consider any sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor that results from a minor decoy operation that is not conducted in compliance with the standards established under this section for the purpose of imposing any civil penalty against a licensee, making a decision on the renewal, suspension or cancellation of a license issued under this chapter or otherwise sanctioning a licensee for the sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor.
(7) The commission shall give notice of the uniform standards established under this section to all law enforcement agencies of this state that conduct minor decoy operations. [2001 c.791 §2]
Section: Previous 471.333 471.335 471.340 471.341 471.342 471.344 471.345 471.346 471.350 471.351 471.355 471.360 471.365 471.370 471.375 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008