The red tags seen on houses around the UA aren't decorations; most of them are citations from the Tucson Police Department.

TPD has issued an increased number of red tags in the university area in the past five to six months and expects to continue.

On Feb. 24, the penalties for red tags and various city ordinances will be addressed by Mayor Bob Walkup and the City Council, and could ultimately increase.

Officers in the mid-town area respond to and red-tag about 20 parties every weekend (Thursday to Sunday). Most of the houses tagged belong to students, said Community Resource Officer Martina Jakober.

"It's a gamut of things that ultimately result in a red tag," said Officer C. Crowell.

According to Tucson City Statute 11-140, police can red-tag a property at which five or more people are gathered and violations including "excessive noise or traffic, obstruction of public streets by crowds or vehicles, drinking in public, the service of alcohol to minors or consumption of alcohol by minors, fighting, disturbing the peace and littering" take place.

Other violations not listed in the statute that can still warrant a red tag include excessive drinking, bonfires, urinating in public and charging a cover fee to enter a party.

Both officers said that they have encountered a lot of static from students when they issue red tags, and stressed that it's important to know why police issue them and how the penalty system works.

"It's a misconception that we're targeting students. We're not. It just so happens that a lot of students have more parties than the normal public," Jakober said, citing that recently a red-tag was issued at a woman's 80th birthday party.

Jakober and Crowell both said they suspect that one of the reasons the number of incidents has increased is that "students aren't fully aware of the what the violations are."

A red tag is initially issued as an "official posted warning," Crowell said.

At that time, police inform residents of the violation and stick a red tag to the window where it must stay for 120 days; if it is torn down or defaced and TPD is not notified immediately, all tenants are issued a $100 fine.

"They had everyone leave and told us if we had another party, to make it look like everyone brought their own alcohol," said Amy Cegielski, a marketing junior whose home was red-tagged on Jan. 18. "They weren't mean about it at all."

Upon a second violation during the 120-day period, police will issue an official citation. Which could be the same night as the warning, Crowell said: "There is no official time limit within those 120 days."

In addition, all tenants will be forced to pay a $500 fine ÷ even if they weren't at the party. Landlords and homeowners will also be notified and fined.

"(Owners) are responsible to rectify the problem because it's their property," Jakober said.

Tenants could also be fined for every person on the property at the time of the citation.

"Students need to be 100 percent sure that everyone in their house or apartment is of legal drinking age," Crowell said.

Additional citation fines increase in increments of $500, but neighbors want the problem stopped before it ever reaches that point.

Members of the Jefferson Park and Sam Hughes neighborhood have approached the City Council and Mayor Bob Walkup about the issue.

"This has been an ongoing concern," said Assistant City Attorney Mike Rankin. "There has been a concerted effort in the neighborhoods for the past two years to have something done about it."

A committee of citizens who have renewed the ordinances have suggested to Walkup and the council that a $100 fine be applied to the first violation, Rankin said. They are also lobbying to increase subsequent fines by $250.

Neighbors would also like to request that the red tag time be changed from four months to six, although the request will not be included for consideration this month.

"Our neighbors are old. If I was like 40, I'd be calling the cops too," Cegielski said.

Jakober said that having parties isn't a problem as long as residents keep them under control.

"Most of these people are not bad people, they're just having a good time," she said. "The problem is they're being destructive and disturbing the quality of life."