Devils Lake Cracks Down on Public Intoxication

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Devils Lake Cracks Down on Public Intoxication

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The city of Devils Lake, North Dakota, is stepping up efforts to deal with out-of-control alcohol drinkers; a month ago, the city passed an ordinance that doesn't go after habitual drunkards -- instead, it targets those who serve them.

Valley News Team's Eric Crest went to Devils Lake to find out more about it.

Chief Keith Schroeder, Devils Lake Police Dept.: "You can't serve alcohol to someone who's intoxicated, pretty easy definition."

The newest ordinance regulating alcohol sales in Devils Lake has left some in the alcohol business with questions.

Dick Prozinski, Owner of Proz, Inc., Devils Lake: "Is it gonna help? I don't really understand it. I guess it's something new that Devils Lake is trying."

They're calling it a crackdown on "habitual drunkards," something that's been on the books for a long time, but needed clarification.

Schroeder: "It says you can't serve alcohol to a habitual drunkard... no definition on the books."

But the new idea is simple: get busted by the police too many times for alcohol abuse, and you're on the list.

Schroeder: "The idea is to deny alcohol to people who become so intoxicated they are a danger to themselves or others on a regular basis."

So how do you get on the list? It's a five strike system: go to detox five times throughout the course of one year, and you're not getting served anywhere in town.

Prozinski: "You know, if it saves somebody's life and helps them, that's great, but I don't really know that if we don't serve them alcohol or sell them off sale it's gonna fix the problem. It's a band aid. It makes me wonder why other cities in the state don't have an ordinance like it."

Schroeder: "It's not a cure all for these people. We're concerned about their welfare. Jail is not an appropriate place for these people. Right now, it's the only alternative we have in town."

With just 20 licensed liquor establishments in town, it isn't hard to enforce no-sale rules for the mere seven people on the list today, but if the list grows with time, it could pose a challenge for law enforcement.

In addition, most of the names that appeared on the list are Native American, and that has drawn some criticism from Spirit Lake tribal leaders, but the Police Chief says they are not singling people out due to race; they're simply adding names to the list according to how many trips to detox they've had.

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Devils Lake Cracks Down on Public Intoxication - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Devils Lake Cracks Down on Public Intoxication

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