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La Crosse may fine drunks

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Also by Blake Anderson:

Program docks at Marinette (January 31, 2007)
Big promises, big questions (January 30, 2007)
Doyle plans to aid UW (January 29, 2007)
UW-M looks to expand campus (January 29, 2007)
Race policy forum today (January 29, 2007)

by Blake Anderson

Friday, January 19, 2007

After numerous incidents involving the over-intoxication of students, the city of La Crosse is reviewing an ordinance that would levy a large fine on people who are “profusely drunk” in public.

The ordinance would not charge individuals based on a blood-alcohol test, but rather would charge those who are visibly over-intoxicated while out in public.

According to UW-La Crosse Director of Public Relations Cary Heyer, examples of such behavior would be vomiting in alleyways, kicking over mopeds, slurred speech or even swaying while walking down the street.

Heyer added it is important to remember that this is a public safety policy and would help prohibit the binge drinking that some local residents participate in.

“Most individuals don’t do this behavior,” Heyer said. “But once in a while some people do and we need to do what we can to stop that.”

The La Crosse Police Department declined to comment on the ordinance since it has not been brought before the City Council yet.

If the ordinance is passed, those found in violation could face fines ranging from $200 to $500, with repeat offenses costing even more.

“The penalties are substantial, and they’re that way so people understand how serious this is,” Heyer said. “It’s one thing if you engage in risky behavior and you feel like you can risk being caught, but it’s another when the fine is at least a couple hundred bucks.”

Heyer added that the ordinance is partially in response a recent incident involving two local students who nearly drowned. According to the La Crosse Tribune, the two students had been registered with a blood-alcohol content ranging from 0.20 percent to 0.23 percent.*

Heyer believes the ordinance will help hinder similar incidents, and emphasized that the new ordinance would help to improve this “lacking” public safety issue.

With the ordinance mainly targeting the student body, UW-La Crosse sophomore Andrew Gebel said the ordinance would have little effect and would not make the city any safer. “They can’t hide from the problem,” Gebel said. “The problem is that La Crosse doesn’t have [police officers] down by the river and doesn’t have enough people downtown to provide enough safety.”

Gebel added that there would be a student uproar if the ordinance came into effect and said it would not stop the students from binge drinking. Instead, Gebel said it would only cause students to become more discreet.

Gebel also said he was angry that the officer would not need to use a blood-alcohol test, and called the proposal “ridiculous.”

With the ordinance scheduled to come before the La Crosse City Council Jan. 25, individuals such as Gebel will not have to wait long to voice their concerns.

“The student body is not going to be happy,” Gebel said. “It’s pretty extreme and ridiculous.”

* A correction was made on the original copy that printed Jan. 19, 2007.

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