A Ventura County group has received a national award for its efforts to prevent underage drinking parties by pushing for fines on residents who allow the events.

The 10 cities and the unincorporated area have all passed what are called "social host liability laws," making Ventura County the only one in the U.S. to impose the rules in every jurisdiction, officials involved in the Ventura County Limits partnership said Friday.

"The rules in Ventura County have changed, and we are beginning to see the severity of problems in these party settings change, too," said Kathy Staples, project director.

The organization is a community partnership that seeks to reduce underage and binge drinking. Included are elected officials, law enforcement, schools, businesses, parents and teenagers.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, part of the U.S. Justice Department, presented the honor last week at a national leadership conference in Orlando, Fla.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department has issued 48 citations since the first ordinance took effect in Ojai early in 2006.

Fifteen citations came in the unincorporated areas, followed by 12 in Camarillo, nine in Thousand Oaks, eight in Ojai, three in Moorpark and one in Fillmore.

No citations have yet been issued in Simi Valley or Ventura. Port Hueneme passed its ordinance Wednesday, but the law has not yet taken effect, Councilman Murray Rosenbluth said. Figures for Oxnard and Santa Paula could not be obtained Friday.

Under the new laws, anyone who throws a party with underage drinking can be fined $1,000 when police are called to break it up. The fines are lower in Camarillo and Oxnard at $500 and higher in Thousand Oaks at $2,500.

Parents, friends and teens can be fined if caught hosting such gatherings, which are the biggest source of alcohol to young people, said Dan Hicks, program administrator in the county Behavioral Health Department.

Sheriff's Chief Deputy Geoff Dean said those being fined represent a range of ages, but that most are probably young adults. He estimated that 35 percent to 40 percent are appealing the civil fines.

Camarillo's high numbers reflect unruly parties as well as underage drinking because its ordinance covers both, Police Chief Steve DeCesari said.

Three came over six months at one address, DeCesari said. A 20-year-old renter was holding the parties, but the problem disappeared when the owner sold the house and left, he said.