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Friday, February 10, 2012
Drunk in Public
by Michelle Lazark, published on April 19, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Storyline: Ask Officer Michelle
Posted by dvh123
I am trying to find statistics for drunk in public incidents in my neighborhood. I live at 22nd and I street in midtown and it seems to me and my husband that in the past year or so we have had more and more of these incidents, particularly on the weekends. We are very disturbed by the number of individuals leaving the bars/restaurants in our neighborhood who are at best just loud and drunk and happy or at worst having horrible drunken altercations, sometimes right under our bedroom window. We do call the police, but this situation has gotten out of hand and it is also a very dangerous one in that there are fights and people driving away intoxicated. We need a foot or bicycle patrol. We need someone to watch people leaving these establishments and following them to their cars and stopping them from being loud, fighting and driving away drunk.
What else can I do besides call the police when I am woken at 2 or 3 am by loud fighting drunks?
Thanks!
Dear dvh123,
Thank you for writing. I did some research into two square blocks surrounding the intersection of 22nd St. and I St. Since November 2007, officers made arrests for a wide range of offenses including, but not limited to, public intoxication, DUI, simple assaults (fist fights) and aggravated assaults involving a weapon (a metal bar). Officers also responded to a number of disturbance calls. Often times, the source of the disturbance is gone by the time the officer arrives. An officer’s response time is based on the volume and priority of calls at that particular time.
I encourage you and your neighbors to continue calling the police when your peace is disturbed. We focus our resources on the basis of calls for service, so your calls are important. Unfortunately, we do not have the staffing resources available to follow patrons to their cars when they leave the restaurants, clubs and other establishments. However, I will forward the information you provided to the officers assigned to your area.
Officer Michelle
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Can the residents start a petition to present to the city counsel or the police department?
I thought that CA laws were passed many years ago that held bar responsible for the condition of how they're patrons left their establishment. If they're drunk and drive then the owners can also be held accountable for the DUI, manslaughter or involuntary murder charges.
If this still stands true, can't they be held accountable for fines that residence can pursue for continually having their peace disturbed? If there are enough complaints can the bar loose their liquor license?
We routinely do buiness checks and have a dedicated unit (Entertainment Team) who deal with the downtown bars. We also work with the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), a state agency, that keep the bars in line. If there is an ongoing problem with a bar, the ABC will investigate. If the problem is substantiated, they will pull their liquor license. Sometimes for a period of time....sometimes indefinately. Contact the entertainment team supervisor at our Richards Boulevard office. They can help. The number is 808-4500. Good luck with that....Michelle
Fortunately, Midtown Business Association has hired (with a small contribution from city council) a group called Hospitality Institute which will be here soon to work with residents and businesses to see what can be done to resolve these increasing alcohol related problems.
Meanwhile, people are invited to attend the Neighborhood Advisory Group held every third Monday of the month at 6:30 at the Hart Center, 27th and J. You can make your voice heard there. Sacpress is now covering those meetings too.