Number of liquor law violations rise

The total occurrences of liquor law violations increased from 161 to 267 from 2008-2009, according to the Department of Public Safety’s crime summaries. Violations for underage possession of alcohol specifically increased from 55 to 131 incidents within this year.

Department of Public Safety Detective Robert Butler attributes this increase in arrests to the department taking a more aggressive approach.

“We’ve got a big group of people who want to do their jobs, and who want to do them well,” Butler said.

According to Butler, the majority of alcohol violations occur in the university’s residence halls and in the downtown area. As a result, the department has more officers patrolling these locations, especially on Thursday nights, which, according to Butler, is the “party night, and always has been.”

Butler also stated that these liquor law violations not only have serious ramifications for the students who get arrested, but they directly affect the community as well. In the 2009-10 school year the Public Safety reported 30 occurrences of public disturbances involving alcohol, 27 of which resulted in arrests.

Junior Ben Brown sees it differently. Brown attributes the increased arrest rate to the government’s desire to increase revenue.

“I feel that the county and city make a good bit of money on each arrest,” Brown said. “Handling a (minor in possession) and having it expunged from your record costs almost $1,000. That’s why I think you see so many arrests for underage drinking . . . the money is just too good for the county.”

Brown has first-hand experience with the GCSU police; he was arrested in downtown Milledgeville for underage possession of alcohol.

“I learned my lesson to be more careful, but I still drink underage and I am going to continue to do so, just like most other students who get arrested,” Brown said.

Margy Coleman, a student driver for S.N.A.P., a free service that escorts students in the vicinity of the GCSU campus via golf cart, said that S.N.A.P. helps students stay out of trouble.

“Students are always going to drink,” Coleman said. “So it’s helpful if you can offer ways to make it safer.”

Students frequently find themselves calling the service instead of driving under the influence, an occurrence for which the GCSU Department of Public Safety made 92 arrests last year.

According to Butler, a significant number of street signs were stolen and vandalized recently. He said that this vandalism is “almost definitely alcohol-related,” and that the replacement of these signs will cost taxpayers money, which leaves the department with no option but to crack down on alcohol consumption.

“Students have to respect the community that they live in just like they would respect their hometown,” Butler said.

Posted by Vanessa Whited on Oct 1 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.