City prepares to crack down on bars, nightclubs
Lawrence City Commissioners prepare to crack down on problem bars and nightclubs. Enlarge video
Stricter fines are on tap for people illegally carrying guns downtown, but a new city system to license bars and other entertainment businesses is not - at least not yet.
City commissioners at their Tuesday evening meeting unanimously approved an ordinance that will add significant jail time for people who illegally carry weapons near a bar. That ordinance was widely praised by bar and club owners, but a new entertainment licensing system was as popular as flat beer.
Commissioners said they wanted to put the entertainment licensing idea on hold until they could have formal meetings with representatives of the bar and entertainment industry. A meeting date will be set later by city staff.
The licensing system, as currently proposed, would allow the city to revoke an entertainment license for a variety of issues including noise problems, an accumulation of trash or litter in the surrounding area, or an increase in criminal activity within the vicinity of the bar or club by patrons who are leaving or entering the establishment.
Seven members of the public - most with ties to the bar industry - spoke against the idea of a new licensing system. No one from the public spoke in favor of it.
Those speaking against it included Dennis Steffes, owner of the Last Call, a downtown nightclub where several shots were fired last year. The club at 729 N.H. has been accused of attracting patrons who bring guns into downtown.
Steffes told commissioners the licensing idea was an attempt to punish businesses for the actions of individuals. "You don't close a bank for having armed robberies," Steffes said. "You don't close a gas station for having too many drive-offs. You don't fire a police officer for having too many speeders in his jurisdiction. But you want to close entertainment venues simply for working with what society gives us to work with."
Several bar owners said they would like to see more police presence downtown. Some suggested using video cameras to film activity in problem parking lots, or parking retired police cars in those lots to provide the sense of a police presence. Commissioners also said they were exploring the use of the state's nuisance law, which has been used in Topeka to close problem businesses.
On the gun issue, commissioners on a 5-0 vote approved changes to an existing ordinance that makes it illegal to carry a weapon within 200 feet of a drinking establishment unless a person has a concealed-carry permit or meets several other specific exceptions.
The changes to the ordinance raise the minimum jail time from zero days to 30 days for a first-time offender, 90 days for a two-time offender and 180 days for a three-time offender.
Comments
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nbnozzy (anonymous) says…
Steffes is right. You don't fine the businesses. Go after the patrons who cause the problems. Fine the offenders a thousand dollars or so and in short order, they will probably think twice about their behavior. It would be easy for the state to revoke drivers licenses if the fines were not paid or garnish wages. The city commision of Lawrence is still looking to punish businesses because they are the easy targets.
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
Steffes is wrong. You fine the business that creates the problem. These aren't ordinary retail establishments but rather venues that bring together a violative mix of alcohol and revelry. Some choose to be the type of venues that don't create community problems while others choose to adopt a mix that guarantees trouble.
lynnd (anonymous) says…
I'm glad to see the approval of increased jail time. Making an example of the people caught violating the existing ordinance on guns will help deter others from doing the same. If the violators see that they actually will spend 30, 90, or 180 days in jail they might think twice before violating the ordinance.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Jamesaust got my vote.
Should all bars pay for Steffes irresponsibility? NO!
Should the city have more local authority regarding nuisance bars and alcohol licenses? Absolutely!
Raider (anonymous) says…
The problem is that we all want Last Call to go, but the city has no way of closing it down. This entertainment license is a menas to an end. Steffes invites this type of trouble for having the type of club that he has. If you notice, almost all of the arrests and problems have been with people from kck, kcmo, Topeka, etc. and they all involve this "hip hop" venue. The simple solution is to get rid of the hip hor venue and the problem will solve itself.
Steffes is playing the victim here when in fact he is flirting with being the criminal. He knows what he's doing by inviting this element and he knows he can't be touched because of the nature of his client. The minute the city or anyone else speaks out against this place the NAACP, the ACLU, and every other liberal looney group in AMerica will cry racism. Steffes knows this, and he knows he's safe.
kneejerkreaction (anonymous) says…
Good idea Topeka to regulate concealed carry laws statewide. Lawrence is one Kansas town that is getting carried away with useless regulations. Opponents to concealed carry seem incapable of understanding that legal carriers of concealed weapons are NOT a threat to general public safety. Regulations don't make a town safer, if it were that easy all cities would simply regulate crime outside their city limits. Regulations passed recently in Lawrence (200 ft rule, No Gun signage) only serve to inconvenience law abiding citizens, not criminals.
As for the Lawrence bar scene, be careful commissioners. Take away the bar scene and you take away downtown Mass St. Last Call can't help who frequents their establishment. This all flared up because a relativey unsavory character was murdered by another unsavory character during a hip hop concert. Maybe banning hip hop would help, it seems to carry a culture of violence... The reality is that violence will happen and every time it does, passing a new regulation is not the answer.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
It would be easy for the state to revoke drivers licenses if the fines were not paid or garnish wages.
What planet are you from???
kneejerkreaction (anonymous) says…
I'm not entirely sure I want my tax dollars to go toward housing idiots for 30, 60 and 90 days who carry a firearm in the back seat of their car, IF that is their only crime. If it isn't (i.e. they are a felon and cannot own a firearm), then as bowhunter mentioned, let's use existing laws.
And, when would jail time start?...well, after we spent a lot of tax dollars prosecuting.....
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
There will be NO JAIL time for any of these thugs. Did we all forget this is Liberalville, Kansas. The judges here don't send people to jail.
leadrain (anonymous) says…
i've lived in several large cities and you'd be surprised at how many folk walk around with a pistol, sure there's always gonna be crime. but i feel the pressure isn't being applied towards the irresponsible actions of a handfull of trouble-makers. i think everyone { with any common sense} should own at least 1 firearm. you all know the ol sayings. if you outlaw guns only outlaws would have them.
it's better to have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.
but for all involved:: don't bring your guns out drinking with you. surely, you can find another date.
Dracul (Bill Chapman) says…
There are far too many people charged with downtown related crimes (drunk and disorderly, assault, etc.) that get let off with a minor fine (less than $500) and no time served.
If the punishment does not equal the crime, then the crimes will continue. Punishment for possession of a unlicensed firearm near a bar should be very harsh - guns and alcohol do not (and should not) mix.
I am not a anti-gun advocate. Far from it - if I had the funds and the land to do so I would set up a local firing range. But I am a advocate for safe firearm handling - no matter what some people seem to believe, guns are not expensive adult toys. Guns are designed to severely injure if not kill people. Treating guns as a toy to be thrown on the floor is asking for trouble.
Treating gun law offenders as little boys and girls to be slapped on the wrist for not following the law is also asking for trouble.