Iowa governor signs Davenport-backed bill for dealing with nuisance bars into law

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, signed into legislation a Davenport-backed invoice to permit it on Thursday on the Davenport Police Division.

The signing was not on her public schedule.

The invoice, HF 2340, backed by the town of Davenport, would permit metropolis and county attorneys to sue alcohol institutions for making a severe risk to public security and to hunt a brief injunction earlier than trial, relatively than counting on the Iowa Alcoholic Drinks Division to revoke a license.

A severe risk to public security, in line with the invoice, would exist if an proprietor, worker, or patron in or close to an alcohol institution would hearth a gun, assault somebody, or is a part of a “riot.” 

Davenport tried to disclaim a liquor license to the now-closed Shenanigan’s Irish Pub at 303 W. third St. due to its public-safety historical past. The town was overruled by the Alcoholic Drinks Division, which is chargeable for regulating and investigating complaints about alcohol institutions.

Going via native courts, which usually deal with nuisance complaints in all different capacities, will convey parity to the method and, hopefully, faster decision, Davenport metropolis officers supported the invoice.

Upon submitting a lawsuit, the court docket can order the bar to restrict its hours of alcohol gross sales to six a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Ought to a district court docket decide a risk to public security exists, the court docket might briefly shut the enterprise, revoke its alcohol license or require a change in enterprise observe or operations. It might additionally require the proprietor submit bond to maintain the property open pending last decision of the lawsuit.

The Iowa Restaurant Affiliation, which opposed the invoice, argued the measure might discourage alcohol institutions from calling 911 for concern they’d be flagged as a part of the issue.