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More than coffee 'brewing'
(by Kathryn A. Burger - July 16, 2008)
Dunkin’ Donuts has succeeded in making a dent in Starbuck’s bottom line in the past year. Aggressive ad campaigns have drawn business away from the “upscale” retailer in favor of the more middle-America purveyor of fresh-brewed coffee.
But the Dunkin’ Donuts on Kinderkamack Road in Park Ridge is attracting large groups of young people who come for the coffee, but, according to nearby residents, have made the small strip mall where the store is located their meeting place of choice. The store is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. These groups are noisy, the residents have reported, with incidents of “excessive noise” occurring in the late evening. One report notes a disturbance at 1:47 a.m.
In early June, police responded to the area on a report of about 50 young people hanging out behind the store. When police arrived, they found 10 teens sitting on milk crates in the lot behind the store. They were told that if their business at the store was completed, they needed to move on. At that time the manager was told that he and his employees had to make an attempt to keep customers moving and not allow them to gather in the rear of the store and disturb residents that live above and behind the business. The manager said he would speak to the owner about posting “No Loitering” signs.
That same evening, police made several passes into the parking lot between 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Several people were observed both in the front and the rear of the store. One group was observed sitting on folding chairs that were placed between their vehicles. They were told to move on and left without incident.
According to Chief of Police Joseph Madden, the owner of the franchise did post “No Loitering” signs in the immediate vicinity of the store. But from recent incidents, the signs have not deterred people from gathering there. Responding officers have found groups of young people assembled, but none have reported hearing excessive noise. There are apartments on the second floor of the building and residents there have complained that young people have been gathering inside the building, on the stairs leading up to the apartments. In one report, filed at 9:27 p.m., one apartment resident stated that, “a group of juveniles were hanging out on the steps inside the building leading to the apartments.” When police arrived they found two borough teens, ages 14 and 15, and 16-year-old from
Hackensack on the steps, under the “No Loitering” signs. The teens said they hadn’t seen the signs. They were advised to leave the area and they did.
Responding to an anonymous report of loud noise filed at 10:27 p.m. on the same evening, police said they found, “a large group of young adults standing in the rear parking lot talking.” They were told to go into the store or leave the area. The group apologized and left the area.
Most recently, police reports indicate that on July 2 at 1:47 a.m., loud music coming from behind the store was reported. On arrival, police found six young people siting in two vehicles, talking. All were told about the no-loitering policy and that they were not to be in the parking lot if they had finished their business in the store. That evening, another report was received that there was excessive noise and a large group of young people. Police found several juveniles in the middle of the parking lot blocking traffic and creating a hazard. They were told to move on.
Police continue to patrol the area and respond to complaints. Chief Madden said, “We will be meeting with the owner of Dunkin’ Donuts soon to discuss some options to eliminate these ongoing problems.”
The borough code (accessible at www.parkridgeboro.com) defines “noise” as, “Any sound [at any time] which is unwanted or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological effect on human beings.” Noise generated by a number of specific sources is prohibited between 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The code’s “Article III Idling or Loitering; Curfew for Minors” addresses the assembly of persons whether they are making noise or not. The loitering code as it applies to minors and the responsibility of parents or guardians are set forth in Chapter 78-22: “It shall be unlawful for the parent, guardian, or other adult person having the care or custody of any minor under the age of 18 years to knowingly permit such minor to… loiter in violation of this article.”
The code also specifies that if a minor violated the code between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., that it will be presumed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, that the responsible adult knowingly permitted the minor to do so. The penalties for violations of any provision of the chapter is a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 90 days in jail.
To date, police have not arrested or detained any young adults in connection with gatherings/noise at Dunkin Donuts. Madden hopes that the department and the owner/operator of the store can work together to solve these ongoing issues, before police, in response to residents’ complaints, start enforcing the borough codes.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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