Tailgaiters Party On!

The City of Green Bay is getting ready to change its ordinance affecting a large number of tailgaters at Green Bay Packers games -- and it's not just the Lambeau Field parking lot where people would be legally allowed to walk around with a beer in their hands.

Action 2 News learned the city attorney has drafted an exemption to the open intoxicant ordinance, and it will go before a committee next Monday.

"There's plenty of laws on the books that look silly. We don't want this one to look that way and be unenforceable," city attorney Jerry Hanson said.

The law came to light after a Milwaukee police sergeant found a 25-year-old ordinance prohibiting open alcohol containers in parking lots (Milwaukee's city council quickly passed an exemption for tailgating at Miller Park). A check of local ordinances found Green Bay has the same law, too.

Granted, Green Bay police never enforced the current ordinance but a new law would make clear what is legal and what's not.

It would make alcohol "officially" legal outside Lambeau Field for 70,000 fans on game day, and that's not the only place.

"Lambeau Field is exempt from this ordinance and any sporting events that are there. There's also special events that will be exempt such as Americafest, Artstreet, events around town where people are walking around with a beer," Hanson said, "and if I've missed anything, we give the chief of police the ability to make a waiver." For example, a block party or neighborhood event, Hanson said.

Police Chief Craig Van Schyndle said he strongly supports the new ordinance. He said it would take any guesswork out of the equation for officers.

"Instead of a police officer giving a blind's eye to something, it gives us the authority to say 'yes' or 'no' in a situation. It makes it black or white," said Chief Van Schyndle.

Hanson said he expects overwhelming support from the city council. "I don't expect any problems."

If it breezes through the committees and city council, the new open intoxicant ordinance would be on the books July 8th. That's too late for Americafest on July 4th, but the city attorney says police won't enforce the current ordinance knowing it's in the process of being changed.

Wow government working with common sense this is hard to believe. Good decision on their part.

Later
Leopardmech

They didn't want to be in city hall when it was being burned down! :noflame:

:lol: :mrgreen: :lol: :mrgreen: :lol: :mrgreen: :lol: :mrgreen: :lol: :mrgreen: :lol:

kudos to the city of Green Bay for, as leopardmech said, using some common sense

Common sense says, let 'em drink! :beer: