By Jeff Lipton
Police from the 1st Precinct were called to 2206 Hallock St. on June 14 at 3:30 a.m. and found about 50 youths at a party, as well as a number of beer bottles and beer cans littering the lawn, authorities said. Beer bottles and cans, in addition to many liquor bottles, also lined the first floor of the home, Sgt. Kevin Driscoll said.
After a brief investigation, the officers determined that several of the party-goers were underage, authorities said.
Sanam Gandhi, of Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, was identified as the one who invited the youths to the party, officials said. Gandhi's father owns the home.
Gandhi was arrested and charged with one count under Nassau's "social host law," which is described as an "unclassified" misdemeanor punishable by a $250 fine for the first offense and up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail for a third offense.
Even though Gandhi's father owns the home, he was not held responsible by police because he had no knowledge of the party, said Lt. Kevin Smith, a police spokesman.
"Even though that was not his home address, the son was in the home and in control of the property at the time," Smith said. "His father did not know anything about it. The son threw the party and allowed the underage drinking to take place.
Gandhi was taken to the 1st Precinct, where he was released on a summons and ordered to appear in 1st District Court in Hempstead on June 23, officials said.
Smith said anyone who is 18 or older and allows underage drinking to take place in a residence - or fails to stop it - can be held criminally liable for such actions.
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi signed a bill last June putting the social host law on the books.
Officials said the law has been particularly effective during prom and graduation season.
Smith said the law has some teeth and several suspects have been arrested during the past year.
"It's gaining notoriety," said Smith, who added that police were also recently called to a house in Valley Stream, where a girl was so drunk she needed medical attention.
The Gandhi family could not be reached for comment.
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