Posted 3/28/01 17 failures: County sets fines for selling alcohol to minors By Danielle Strenke Following the example of the state, the Chisago County Board approved the establishing of fines imposed against establishments that sell alcohol to minors. At its March 21 meeting, the board set a fine of $200 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 for a third offense. A fourth offense within five years would mean revocation of the establishmentís liquor license. This action was taken after the board received the results of the most recent compliance checks conducted by the Chisago County Sheriffís Department. The ìstingî resulted in 17 businesses failing to check for proper identification, and selling liquor to a minor. The establishments that failed included both on-sale and off-sale businesses across the county. The state already imposes fines to establishments found in violation, which begin at $500 for the first offense. The board said it was up to the county to enforce the law as well, and collect the fines. ìIf we donít do anything, the state is going to fine them anyway,î Commissioner Bob Gustafson said. ìWe may as well do it and have the income come in here. If we do this and follow through, I donít think weíll have a lot of problems in the future.î All establishments selling alcohol in the county and near its border were sent a letter last year informing them of the sheriffís departmentís plan to test their compliance with the laws of carding anyone who does not look 21. Last August, the first check produced six compliance failures; in January, the number increased to 17. ìI thought this was pretty serious, especially failing a second time,î Commissioner Ben Montzka said. Alliegro told him there were only two businesses that failed the second check, but neither were in Chisago County. Commissioner Mike Robinson said he had talked to some of the employees that failed the most recent compliance check, who thought it was an unfair test. ìThey are talking entrapment, because the girl who went in was made up to look 30 or 35,î he said. Comm. Gustafson said that should have been a clue that she may not be old enough to buy alcohol. ìBut what happens with the rest of the twenty-somethingís who come in made up, and arenít carded,î he said. There was some debate among the commissioners on the amount of the fines. ìIf we lower that first offense from $500, will the state come back and say you didnít fine them enough?î Commissioner Bob Vande Kamp asked. County Attorney Ted Alliegro said the amount of the fine was inconsequential. ìThe state is just saying they want us to do something,î he said, explaining that the state authorizes counties to impose their own fines on violators. Until now, there was not a specific resolution with a fine schedule in place, he said. He also said that the 17 businesses in violation during Januaryís sting would receive the county fine. ©Post Review