Public alcohol rules expand throughout El Paso
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The El Paso City council voted on Tuesday to expand the areas in the city where it would be illegal to have an open container of alcohol while near homeless shelters.
According to the new ordinance, a person would face a class C misdemeanor with a maximum fine of up to $500 if they are found with an open alcohol container on "any public street, sidewalk, alley or pedestrian way located within 1,000 feet of the property line of a homeless shelter that is not located in the Central Business District"
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The previous ordinance applied to just El Paso's Central Business District.
The ordinance defines a homeless shelter as "a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter or other facility that is designed to provide temporary living accommodations to individuals who lack a fixed regular and adequate residence."
The new ordinance applies to shelters including, the Salvation Army, the Child Crisis Center, the Veteran Emergency Shelter, and transitional housing programs.
Exceptions to the ordinance include:
- Special Authorized events with a valid Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit
- Inside a building not owned or controlled by the city
- Residential structures
- Within the area of a TABC licensed establishment for consumption on-premises
City officials hope the new ordinance will reduce nuisances and complaints related to drinking in public.
A total of 1,801 citations for open containers were issued between the start of 2020 and June 30, 2021
City leaders passed the ordinance in a 7-1 vote on Tuesday. Rep. Alexsandra Annello voted no to the ordinance.
To see the presentation the city council viewed click here.
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