HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0936.011 2004-2006
2390 Kaiwiki Rd.
Hilo, HI 96720
2006 July 28
Councilman Fred Holschuh
County Council
25 Aipuni St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Fred:
I know that the issue of drinking in the parks is a very difficult matter to resolve, and I
know that no solution will make everyone happy. Here are some of my thoughts on the matter.
The issue is not drinking; it is rowdiness. Everyone knows that rowdiness is often caused
by drinking, but the connection is not absolute. Some drinkers never get rowdy, and there are
rowdy affairs where no alcohol is involved. I believe any ordinance should target the rowdiness,
vandalism, etc., which is the real issue.
The notion that the County should pass a law which they intend to be selectively enforced
is seriously flawed, in my view. Laws should be obeyed, period. Obviously that's a pipe dream,
but to deliberately create a law meant to be frequently violated with impunity is very poor policy.
I understand that the Police Department would prefer a clear-cut law which says, "No
drinking." Then, when people are being obnoxious, the police can enforce the no-drinking law
without having to make judgements about who is of legal age, how bad the problem is, etc. But I
truly believe that will not solve their problem, and will create one instead for the public.
If, as various Council members suggested, the law will be enforce only when there is
objectionable behavior occurring, the police involved will still have to decide if the behavior is
sufficiently objectionable to warrant invoking the law. And the issue of who is and who isn't 21
will remain.
Many communities have a "drunk and disorderly" statue, allowing the police to intervenC
whep drinking coptrlpptes to rowdy JIV gvior. Coglo not a Hawgi'i county ordinance discuss
behavior, rather than' just drinking? ether in conjunction with drinking of not, it is loud,
destructive, and disruptive actions we all want to eliminate. Surely the ordinince could say so.
Sincerely,
Dan Lindsay
P. S. Please share this with all other councilpersons. Mahalo.
Dan
Comm. No. ¦ 31p' ~I
Ref. To Pre
Ref. Date AUG 2006