Party Smart
Student Well-being

1. Register your party! Registering your party can help you avoid a possible citation of $1,000+. You must register your party by the Thursday before noon.
2. Discuss party expectations with your roommates before you host a gathering. Consider the date, timeframe, house rules, number of people, what you will provide guests (consider food), who will be the sober host, who will chat with the neighbors, etc.
3. Notify your neighbors in advance and provide them with the phone number of the sober host. Giving advance notice is in everyone’s best interest. A few days before the event, give your surrounding neighbors a heads up. A simple note in the mailbox or speaking with them is all it takes. Check out FAQs for an example note.
4. Designate a sober host to control music volume, access to the party, and outside disturbances, and address any interactions with the neighbors or police. Behaviors of people coming and going (including parking issues) to the party are often most disruptive to neighbors, not the party itself. Ensure the sober host monitors the foot traffic to and from the party and checks the backyard.
5. Be aware. Look out for red flags like overconsumption of substances and predatory and exclusionary behaviors, and communicate behavioral standards to guests in your space. As a host, you have a heightened responsibility to intervene in situations that may cause harm to your guests. Be sure to call resources if you’re unsure of what to do.
6. Think before you post! Posting your party using social media can lead to out-of-control parties, unwanted guests, and unwanted behaviors. Remember, as a party host, you are responsible for what happens at and as a result of your party, including the actions of others.
7. Unreasonable Noise: The Party Smart Registration program only provides a potential warning for unreasonable noise. The Unreasonable Noise Ordinance is in effect 24 hours a day. Neighbors typically report that it is the behaviors of people “coming and going” to the party they find most disruptive, not the party itself. Encourage your guests to be quiet and respectful before they come, when they leave, and when in the front or backyard.
8. Be aware of alcohol and cannabis laws, especially regarding providing alcohol or cannabis to minors and driving under the influence. Be safe! Fort Lewis does not endorse or condone underage drinking or smoking, the overconsumption of alcohol, or illicit drug use.
9. Keep the size reasonable, so your party stays in line with the capacity of your residence and does not disturb your neighbors.
10. Be proactive by asking for help. If you’re uncomfortable with the size of your party, people will not leave when asked, or if people are acting in a threatening manner, please do not hesitate to call Durango Police Department at (970) 385-2900 and ask for assistance in breaking up your party before things get out of control.
11. Be cooperative towards neighbors, police, and others who come to discuss issues. Don’t make the situation or citation worse. When police arrive, all guests need to leave.
12. Get a safe ride: When clearing out your party, help your guests find a safe ride home. Have safe ride information available or encourage them to use Uber or Lyft if they don’t have a designated driver.
13. Clean up all trash from your party and follow up with your neighbors the next day. Your neighbors may be more tolerant of your next party if they see that you care about how your party may have impacted the neighborhood.
14. Your actions have an impact; make it a positive one. Be a good neighbor both on and off campus. If you are an FLC student, you may be held accountable for your behaviors off campus through the Student Conduct Code.

Party Smart Registration is a cooperative effort between Fort Lewis College's Office of Student Well-Being, Campus Safety, and the Durango Police Department to provide party hosts with an opportunity to receive a warning, providing a 20-minute window to voluntarily terminate a party after a complaint has been received.

Fort Lewis College is not sponsoring or supporting student-led parties by offering the Party Smart Program. This program educates students and encourages conscientious, safe parties and gatherings. Fort Lewis does not endorse or condone underage drinking or smoking, the overconsumption of alcohol, or illicit drug use.

The Party Smart Registration program does not guarantee that a municipal and/or state summons will not be issued, and the registrant understands that the police may respond at any time to any party with a criminal conduct complaint. The Party Smart Registration program does not prohibit or limit in any manner the authority of the police to respond to a party for any reason whatsoever without previously providing a warning. Police will use reasonable efforts to contact the party registrant and give a warning when appropriate. However, the registrant acknowledges that this program does not guarantee a warning. Furthermore, the warning and termination of a party is only available once per party registration - violations after termination of the registered party will not receive the benefit of a warning and are subject to enforcement. The City and FLC neither condone nor sponsor any party registered with the Party Smart Registration program. Participation in the Party Smart Registration program does not constitute approval of any such party or related activities by the City or FLC.

The City and FLC are not liable for the conduct or actions of any guests, hosts, or individuals associated with a party registered with the Party Smart Registration program. Participation in the Party Smart Registration program does not guarantee that the host(s) or attendees of the registered party will be relieved of any legal consequences arising from any conduct or actions associated with the party. The City and FLC shall not be liable for damages to property or injuries to or death of any person or persons arising from a party registered with the Party Smart Registration program. The registrant is responsible for complying with federal, state, and local laws, including but not limited to paying any fines or fulfilling any legal obligations that may come.

How does the Party Smart Registration program work?

The Party Smart Registration program aims to give party hosts an opportunity to receive a warning, providing a 20-minute window to voluntarily terminate a party after receiving a complaint. The information you provide while registering your party will be sent to Durango Police Dispatch before the party. If a complaint is called regarding your party, dispatch will either send an automatic phone call message or text you and your alternate, notifying you of this and giving you a 20-minute warning to shut down your party. Please note that depending on dispatch call volume, the 20-minute warning may come from the police directly. If another complaint is called into dispatch after the sign and 20-minute window, a police officer will be sent to your address.

Does it cost money to register my party?

No! Party Smart Registration is completely free!

Do I have to be 21 to register my party?

No! Anyone who lives off-campus within the Durango community and is 18+ can register their party.

Where can I register my party?

It’s simple! Fill out our online registration form.

When can I register my party?

Parties can be registered year-round, regardless of the day of the week they fall on. However, they MUST be registered by noon Thursday before the party date.

Do police officers get the list of registered parties? Won’t police specifically go to these addresses to shut down the party?

No! The list of registered parties goes to Dispatch, so if your neighbor calls you in on a noise-related complaint, dispatch will call you and your alternate with a warning. Police officers on duty do not have the list of registered parties.

Do registered parties get shut down at a particular time?

No! As long as the party isn't too loud or disruptive to cause you to get a warning call from dispatch or an in-person visit from police, your party can continue. An in-person visit from police can result from anything that officers would notice while out on patrol, such as disruptive noise, guests hanging out outside, trash, etc.

Any advice on how to tell my neighbors I’m about to have a party?

Be honest and friendly, and remember that you are not asking for permission; you are simply being courteous. Leaving them a note is also an option. Here’s a sample:

Dear Neighbor,

My name is __________________ and I live at: ______________________________. I want to let you know that we will be having a party at my/our home on _________, and there may be several people parking around the area and additional noise from music and guests. The event is starting around _____ and is planned to finish at______. I want to apologize in advance for any inconvenience and will do our very best to keep the music level and noise to a respectable level and ensure that our guests leave quietly. If you do have any concerns on the night that we are being too loud or regarding the conduct of any of our guests, please call me at__________. Thank you in advance for your understanding, and I apologize again for any disturbances and assure you this will not be a regular occurrence.

Kind regards,

____________________________________