Ushering in the era of the unfettered "go cup,'' the Covington City Council has amended the city's open container ordinance to make it legal for folks to stroll the streets of the entertainment district with open containers of alcohol. But, alas, last call will remain the same - bars will have to shut down at 2 a.m. each day....
Ushering in the era of the unfettered "go cup,'' the Covington City Council has amended the city's open container ordinance to make it legal for folks to stroll the streets of the entertainment district with open containers of alcohol.
But, alas, last call will remain the same - bars will have to shut down at 2 a.m. each day.
The council's unanimous vote Tuesday drew support from several Covington bar owners as well as Police Chief Richard Palmisano, who said his officers have taken the brunt of criticism for issuing tickets to violators of the city's open container ban.
"It's been a real problem - we get all the complaints,'' Palmisano said. "But we're just doing our job.''
With only a few exceptions - most notably Dec. 31, Jan. 1, Carnival parades and special events - carrying open containers of alcohol on Covington streets has been illegal. Palmisano said his officers write 15-18 open container violation tickets each month, which can draw fines of $65 to $150.
The amended ordinance will take effect in several weeks after it is signed by Mayor Candace Watkins and published in the city's legal journal, officials said. It only legalizes go cups in the city's entertainment district, which has the same boundaries as the historic district, council members said.
The ordinance prohibits glass containers, except in instances approved by the mayor's office, such as for restaurants with sidewalk tables, and only within that permitted area. Watkins said the hope is to encourage more sidewalk dining, adding that the glass container clause is "not an alcohol thing as much as it's a food thing.''
Bars must still close from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., but the amended ordinance pushes that closing time to 3 a.m. two days each year - New Year's Eve and the day daylight savings time begins.
Councilman Trey Blackall said the amended ordinance will eliminate confusion among people who come downtown to enjoy the bars and restaurants as to when drinking on the sidewalks is permitted and when it's not. "We love to invite people to our city,'' he said, adding that this will draw more people to the area.
Steve Ahrons, owner of the Columbia Street Tap Room, said allowing opens containers will allow "people to flow freely from place to place.'' He said it will be bar owners' responsibility to make sure patrons leave bars with cups, not bottles.
"It'll make downtown Covington more receptive,'' added Cliff Bergeron, president of the Covington Business Association. Bergeron said the association did not take a vote, but that the amended ordinance had widespread support among association members.
None of the handful of residents who addressed the council opposed the measure, but Henry Hood, a downtown business owner and resident, cautioned officials to be aware of litter problems that could worsen when bar patrons are allowed to take their drinks onto the sidewalks.
Also Tuesday, the council adopted a public intoxication law that allows officers to arrest people if they are causing a public disturbance, posing a danger to those around them or posing a danger to themselves.
Councilman Lee Alexius said the ordinance, which the council passed unanimously, mirrors state law. The city has a disturbing the peace statute, but not one that specifically addresses public intoxication, Palmisano said.