Stetler had the bill's language amended into H.B. 1692 in the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. The House today passed that bill, 170-33. The possibility exists that the state Supreme Court could overturn the Superior Court decision. That's a significant point because the fines are geared to be high enough to close a speakeasy for good. Otherwise, a speakeasy owner could reopen the operation in another neighborhood.
More crime occurs around speakeasies.
Nearby residents cope with noise and violent disturbances, vandalism, litter, drunken driving and property crimes. Stiff fines help protect the quality of life of neighborhoods by providing incentives against operating a speakeasy. Stetler's bill would change the reference from bottles to containers and would base fines for illegal alcohol on the amount of fluid ounces of alcohol each container could hold, whether full or not. Law enforcement officers confiscated 72 bottles of beer and 2,500 cans of beer. This legislation would end the legal wrangling.