INVITE COPS TO PARTIES, TEENS' PARENTS ADVISED PARENTS ADVISED TO REGISTER PARTIES.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

CALABASAS - Deputies at the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff's station are hoping for parental invitations to teen parties as a way to curb drug use and under-age drinking and to deter intoxicated partygoers from jumping into their cars.

In the party-registration program, parents can notify station personnel of a planned or expected party - alerting authorities to check in on the gathering.

``The more we manage and control these behaviors, the less times you will (read) articles about kids dying,'' said Capt. Bill McSweeney.

``Everything we do is to make sure kids reach 18 alive, healthy and without a criminal record,'' he said Wednesday at a news conference in which station personnel also highlighted the dangers of teen rave parties.

``Parents can register a party with the Sheriff's Department weeks in advance; then police are able to visit unannounced,'' McSweeney said.

He said parents also can use the registration process to let authorities know when they will be away and teens might be tempted to stage an impromptu party. It promotes a safe atmosphere when teens know that police probably will drop in, he said, and makes the teens less likely to jump into their cars at the sight of a patrol car near the home where a party is held.

Authorities said drug use is common and dangerous at another type of party - a rave, where the disc jockey might be unobtrusive and the partygoers create their own show.

``Drugs greatly enhance the whole experience,'' said Deputy Terry Spindler, who has been working on rave crackdowns. ``Kids will say they go for the music, but that's an excuse for gathering and using drugs.''

Common at raves, Spindler said, is the drug Ecstasy, a man-made mix of stimulants and hallucinogens that heightens the senses and causes the body to overheat. Ketamine, an animal tranquilizer, and GHB are also plentiful at raves and can be taken at dangerous and even deadly levels because they are colorless and odorless, he said.

McSweeney advised parents to be concerned when their teens attend raves, which attract hundreds of young people every week in desert areas and Hollywood.

``I don't think it's a big problem in our area . . . (but) a lot of the kids who live here are attending these (elsewhere),'' he said.

In the far-ranging press conference, authorities also warned about increasing incidents of ``identity theft'' in which criminals use others' Social Security numbers, credit card account numbers, checking account information and other data in fraud.

They said there were six reports of identity theft in Calabasas during a recent 10-day period.

Detective David Chambers suggested some simple ways to reduce chances of being victimized - for example, to shred receipts and account information.

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(color) Sheriff's Capt. Bill McSweeney says parents can register teen parties in advance to promote a safe atmosphere.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News