Published: April 28, 2022

The end of the school year can be a time of festivities and celebration, and we all play a role in keeping each other and our community safe. Here are some tips and reminders.. 

1. Pay attention to city ordinances 

You can receive an unreasonable noise citation for any noise, music or conversation that can be heard more than 100 feet away from your residence after 11 p.m. This city of Boulder ordinance is similar to “quiet hours” in our residence halls.

Other Boulder ordinances and common issues include: 

  • Fireworks: The use and possession of fireworks is illegal in the city of Boulder and Boulder County, in addition to being a significant fire risk in our area. This includes sparklers, snaps, snakes, bottle rockets, roman candles and smoke bombs. Even if you don’t possess or discharge fireworks, you can be held responsible for fireworks used by your roommates or guests.

  • Alcohol offenses: You can receive a ticket for serving alcohol to a minor or if guests of your party are drinking alcohol in a public area, like the sidewalk in front of your property.

  • Nuisance party: Any gathering of two or more people can be deemed a nuisance for violations that include having a keg in outdoor spaces visible to the public, public or private property damage, brawling and obstructing streets or sidewalks.  

  • Outdoor furniture restriction: In the University Hill area, it is prohibited to keep any upholstered indoor furniture, including chairs, couches and mattresses, from being kept or stored outside in any porch, front or side yard, or any back yard not on an alley.

  • Littering: Keep your neighborhood clean and reduce your impact on the environment and local wildlife by picking up your trash. Clean up immediately after any gatherings to avoid trash-related citations.

If you’re planning a party, consider registering with Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations. Once you’ve registered your party, the police will call you with a warning if they receive a complaint and you will have 20 minutes to shut things down. And party registration is free! Registering your party doesn’t guarantee you won’t get a ticket, so be aware of city ordinances and take steps to ensure the police don’t get called.

2. Review tips for partying smart

If you choose to use alcohol or other drugs, here are some things to know:

  • Drink with people you know and trust. Keep your group small and look out for each other.

  • Eat before drinking, and continue to eat food and drink water throughout the night.

  • Set a limit before going out and stick to it.

  • Avoid mixing prescription or street drugs with alcohol. It increases the risk of overdose and unwanted experiences. 

  • Be aware that any drug not purchased directly from a pharmacy could contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid drug that is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin. Consuming fentanyl poses a significant risk for accidental overdose. Naloxone, brand name Narcan, is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opiate overdose and is available at the Apothecary Pharmacy at Wardenburg Health Center.

  • Make a plan to get home safe. Identify where you will go at the end of the night and how you will get there (walking, public transportation, Uber/Lyft, etc.).

  • Know the signs of alcohol poisoning and how to put someone in the recovery position.

  • Be mindful that substance use can impact someone’s ability to establish consent.

If you choose to drink or use other substances, think through the experiences you want to have as well as those you want to avoid. Review more tips for partying smart.

3. Call for help in an emergency

Calling for help in an alcohol- or drug-related emergency means neither the person who calls for help nor the person who needs help will be subject to formal disciplinary sanctions by the university (i.e., probation, suspension, expulsion). This includes drug and alcohol violations as well as public health order violations.

CU Boulder Amnesty Policy

To be covered by the Amnesty Policy, a student must:

  • Call for help (911 or university staff).

  • Stay with the intoxicated individual until help arrives, and put them into the recovery position if they are exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning.

  • Cooperate with staff and emergency responders.

For more information about the Amnesty Policy, visit the Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution website or review the student code of conduct.

911 Good Samaritan Law

The 911 Good Samaritan Law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose even to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system or to a medical provider.

This same immunity applies to persons who remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives, or if the person remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder or medical provider arrives. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.

4. Look out for each other

Remember that you’re a Buff wherever you are, and it’s important to prepare in advance and have a plan in place in case things do not go as expected. If you’re venturing out with others, find a space where you can go if things feel like they’re getting out of hand. 

Use the buddy system with one of your close friends. Be sure to keep an eye on one another and keep each other safe throughout the night. Never leave a friend or roommate alone with people you just met or don’t know well. It can also be helpful to have a plan or someone you can reach out to in case you need to leave a dangerous situation. 

Review more tips to help you look out for your fellow Buffs.