By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
As of Monday, downtown businesses that sell alcohol now need to be in compliance with the city’s new ordinance aimed at requiring bars to check IDs with scanners and provide more security people, cameras and plans.
Oxford Police Chief Joey East said he and his officers have been meeting with bar and restaurant owners for the last month on Wednesdays.
“We put together a PowerPoint that goes through each part of the ordinance and what is expected of them,” East said. “A lot said they were scared it was going to be worse than it is. They thought we’d require them to have 20 cameras up.”
According to the ordinance, security cameras are required at all entrance and exits and on the outside of bathrooms, where East said sexual assaults and other criminal activity often occurs.
“However, depending on the bar, two cameras may cover all of that,” he said.
Along with cameras, the ordinance also requires all local restaurants serving alcohol to have evacuation plans in place; include adequate security guards who wear clothing that identifies them as such; and the use of ID scanners to check for fake ID cards.
East said most establishments have decided to go with ID scanning phone apps, rather than purchasing separate scanners.
“A couple places are using the same ones we use here at OPD and it works really well,” East said of the age-identifying app.
The next step, East said is to continue to work with those businesses who are not yet quiet in compliance and then turn the focus to the businesses’ safety plans.
“We care about having adequate security and adequately-trained employees, as well as having enough security staff to monitor the crowds inside, so we can focus on the outside.”
The Oxford Board of Aldermen approved the Regulation and Safety of Patrons and Employees of Restaurants, Bars and Similar Businesses, Including Event Venues ordinance in September to go into effect in 30 days for businesses in the downtown district, and Jan. 1 for bars/restaurants in other areas of the city.
The ordinance was a heavily debated topic in Oxford for about two months with standing-room-only public meetings. The ordinance that was finally approved looked very little like the original version. Some said it puts too much financial burden on the restaurant owners.
On Tuesday, Mayor Robyn Tannehill said The Library Sports Bar & Grill attempted to file an injunction against the city to stop the ordinance; however, U.S. District Judge Glen Davidson ruled against the injunction, allowing it to go into effect as planned on Monday.
East said he believes the new ordinance will help improve safety conditions on the Square, particularly during busy weekends like home football games.
“It’s not getting worse, it’s just getting busier,” he said. “As the downtown area becomes more popular, it gets more populated.”
East said there’s been a slight uptick of drug violations seen by officers working the Square.
“People know there is a big crowd here and they are coming here to take advantage of that,” he said. “I believe the ordinance will have a positive effect on reducing underage drinking and if we can reduce that, everything will downtown – public drunk, assaults and DUIs.”
The entire ordinance is available to read online at http://www.oxfordms.net/documents/misc/downtowndistrict-7.pdf
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