Squadron/Schimminger Bill to Crack Down on Problem Nightspots Passes Legislature

 

 

Albany, NY—After more than an hour of contentious debate on the floor, the New York State Senate passed a key piece of legislation, sponsored by State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Robin Schimminger, that would help the State Liquor Authority crack down on nightlife operators who routinely violate noise laws, fail to control unruly crowds and repeatedly draw police attention.

 

Senator Squadron and Assembly Member Schimminger's bill S7378A/A10857A would allow the State Liquor Authority to revoke a liquor license from an establishment for which police have referred six or more noise or disorder incidents to the SLA within a 60-day period. The bill closes a loophole in an existing law that said a license could be revoked for repeated noise and disorder violations but did not consider a police complaint evidence of a disturbance unless the State Liquor Authority could prove that the manager or license holder had responsibility for each incident.

 

The bill was the subject of more than an hour and a half of debate, in which more than a dozen Republican Senators argued that the legislation would give law enforcement too much authority to enforce existing nightlife laws. After last night's vote, the bill has passed both houses of the legislature; today, Senator Squadron and Assembly Member Schimminger called on Governor Paterson to sign the bill into law.

 

"A few bad nightlife operators violate the law over and over again, and law enforcement lacks the basic tools it needs to stop them," said Senator Squadron. "This bill will protect communities from out-of-control crowds and illegal noise that keeps them up all night. If we're sending police to the same bar night after night after night, it's long past time to revoke that owner's license."