2004 Citation Stats/underage drinking

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:31 am

In todays Reno Gazette Journal under the headline"2004 Burning Man Sees More Citations,Fewer Medical Cases";

BLM issued 218 citations up 23% 114 for drugs up 12%
Pershing County"only"2 down from 9

Article goes on to mention that there was indeed increased law enforcement present"because a larger crowd was anticipated".
Emphasis was also in enforcing state alcohol laws as it pertains to underage drinking.The article goes on to say that:
"Pershing County deputies conducted compliance checks at six locations where alcohol was served during the offbeat art festival".
Not surprisingly all 6 failed and were given"warnings".Anybody from one of these 6 camps who could comment?Looks like something that is going to be cracked down on in the future.

TheMuse · Post by **TheMuse** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:38 am

Yeah, be careful when you are serving folks! I almost served someone who looked about 25, until she (luckily) told me she was only 17.... eeek! Looks can be decieving!

I for one do not drag my ID around on the Playa, and I am sure most people don't. Any suggestions on alternative ways to find out the age of young looking bar patrons?

mr. fang · Post by **mr. fang** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:29 am

Here's a link to the article in question:

http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/20 ... local_news

Alpha · Post by **Alpha** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:39 am

TheMuse wrote:Any suggestions on alternative ways to find out the age of young looking bar patrons?

I've been told that looking at a person's hands is a more reliable indicator than looking at their face. Of course, I hail from a place where people are not above microderm abrasaion for those knuckle wrinkles, so even THAT can be deceiving.

Of course the only way to know for sure is to cut 'em in half and count the rings....

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:39 am

There were no deaths or serious injuries this year.

“Burning Man is by far the largest special recreation event permitted by the (BLM) and we are very pleased at how well things played out this year,” said Dave Cooper, the agency’s incident commander at the event.

Burning Man organizers must pay the BLM $4 per person per day — or a total fee of $707,000 — to cover the agency’s costs to administer this year’s event.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:40 am

bar code tattoes will be applied to ALL persons entering the gate in '05

all camps that either serve alchohol or have 'adult themed' camps will be required to use bar code scanners (available at playa info) to determine the age of attendees.

this was seen as the best compromise on the underage/I.D. lugging debate.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:46 am

Definitely something to worry about if you're running a bar. The article actually seems very positive. The only stat that outpaced the population increase was non-drug related citations and let's be honest, the number of citations has more to do with the number of officers out there and how vigorously they pursue offenders. They could have achieved a 1000% increase if they wanted to. The fact that medical problems and accidents were way down indicates there's not a huge need for them to start doing this.

One question - what checks were the 6 locations failing, exactly? They don't say the warnings were for underage drinkers, only that they were worried about that. Were they sited for not checking IDs? Or some other issue?

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 1:09 pm

I like Stuart's response, although a chip implant in the hand or forehead would probably work better. That way you could use it all year, plus, if you put a tracking device in it, your friends could tell where you were on the Playa and either invite you to parties that they have found, or find a party that you are at.

As a matter of fact, this could work for the whole country. It would make it easier to do airport security checks, track criminals, or weed out undesirables. No one would be allowed to live in the country without an implant. In the future, we could make other nations do the same thing, after we invade their pathetic countries and straighten their miserable lives out for them.

This is a good thing. It would solve all the world's problems as far as control of the individual goes. Hmmmm. I think I'll go find a bunch of people who feel the same way and we can all dress alike... like in Brown Shirts, maybe....

Deutschland, Deutschland, ubber alles....

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 1:29 pm

Just give wristbands ... green for > 21, yellow for 18>21, red for < 18 but I like the color coded roofing nails applied bindi style to the forehead with the pneumatic nail gun better.

GuinivereElise · Post by **GuinivereElise** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 1:40 pm

Samtzu: while we're at it, let's have all of our daily money matters handled by these chips, too. No need to carry cash, checkbook, or credit cards: all of our financial matters will come directly out of the implanted chips. The barcode scanners at your local supermarket can be fully equipped to read how much you are 'worth', and you can be either approved or declined, just like a credit card.

Tee hee!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:45 pm

GuinivereElise wrote:Samtzu: while we're at it, let's have all of our daily money matters handled by these chips, too. No need to carry cash, checkbook, or credit cards: all of our financial matters will come directly out of the implanted chips. The barcode scanners at your local supermarket can be fully equipped to read how much you are 'worth', and you can be either approved or declined, just like a credit card.

Tee hee!

Just imagine the pain felt by the poor schnub whose electrical field erases such chips

TheMuse · Post by **TheMuse** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 3:14 pm

Maybe we can all get constant streaming internet implanted in our heads like the book "Feed". Then we wouldn't even have to go to BM... we could Get programs such as "The Burning Man Experience"(TM) sponsored by 3-D banner adds of MTVPepsiCokeGapKFC Intl.

_tears_ · Post by **_tears_** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:56 pm

The theme camp I attended with and I had a conversation about this while we were out there.

We were talking about ID bracelets. 21+ would have one colour 18+ another and under 18 yet another colour. I found it interesting. Not sure how I feel about it exactly.

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:49 pm

My campmates and I run a bar out there. I gotta be honest here.... we have never, and probably never will, carded anyone. I'm a bartender in the default world, and yes, I do know better. I would never serve a child or someone who had clearly had too much. Other than that, I use my own discretion. Have I served people under 21? probably. Under 18? highly doubtful. Do I stress about it? no. We are pretty good about regulating ourselves. I know that some will disagree with me on this, but that's how it goes. I have a 19 year old daughter. If she were there, I would serve her..I would even let her tend bar out there. My 16 year old; no way. She can come when she's 18 and then she can decide for herself. Just my own .02

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 8:08 am

GuinivereElise wrote:
Samtzu: while we're at it, let's have all of our daily money matters handled by these chips, too. No need to carry cash, checkbook, or credit cards: all of our financial matters will come directly out of the implanted chips. The barcode scanners at your local supermarket can be fully equipped to read how much you are 'worth', and you can be either approved or declined, just like a credit card.

Tee hee!

I actually caught the tag end of a report about this practice. It is either being done or has been considered (with temporary implants) at some resorts or clubs. Just wave your hand and your drinks are added to your tab/credit card bill. I will have to look it up to be sure I'm not completely deluded, but somehow I think it isn't far from reality.

Just as long as that particular reality doesn't creep under my personal skin, I say "Let them have implants!"

I'm going to go hide under my (chipless) blankets now.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 9:04 am

Maybe anyone under the age of 17 should be dyed flourescent red for the week. Anyone between 17 and 21 would be died yellow.

And anyone showing up after thursday is dyed green.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 9:59 am

I think they should be given a free Yahoo! hat and t-shirt!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 10:05 am

Everyone should have there name,address,date of birth, mothers name, fathers name and phone # tatooed in the crack of there ass. To be shown upon request by a brown eye- bandit-cop

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 10:29 am

Lets start genetic testing for alcohol tolerance as well. Results tattooed on butt, so you have to pull down your drawers in order to be served.

EB · Post by EB » Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:18 pm

Talk about a wise crack...

gladeye · Post by **gladeye** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 9:55 am

Any suggestions on alternative ways to find out the age of young looking bar patrons?

I'd say check for pubes, but nowadays a smooth crotch doesn't prove anything.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:00 pm

Dork wrote:the number of citations has more to do with the number of officers out there and how vigorously they pursue offenders

If there are more people, wouldn't there be more citations?

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:56 pm

geekster wrote:Just give wristbands ... green for > 21, yellow for 18>21, red for < 18 but I like the color coded roofing nails applied bindi style to the forehead with the pneumatic nail gun better.

This could work! Do it at the gate as people come in. Those wristbands that they give for re-entry would be perfect, just come up with a color coded system. You can't take them off without ruining them so you wouldn't have to worry about people switching them. You might have to worry about "counterfeits" but that is a problem with any kind of ID anyway.

People coming through the gate often have still have their ID/driver's license handy or at least they should in case of getting pulled over in Gerlach on the way.

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:03 pm

I just want to add, that just because I think the wristbands could work doesn't mean I condone it.

we brought an 18 year old to Burning Man, and he drank our beer. I didn't serve him, but I didn't stop him from opening the cooler either.

I don't think that wristbands or law enforcement is going to stop underage drinking, and personally, I don't think they should be enforcing that particular law anyway UNLESS the drinking person is driving. And then the penalties that apply in the real world should apply and in the real world if you are under 21 and get a DUI the punishment is worse than if you are over 21.

In my opinion DUI is DUI whether you are driving an art car or driving down the interstate. In either case you are still putting everyone else in potential danger.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:40 pm

Great thread.

BTW, all your chapters henceforth are under double secret suspension from Beta Rho Kappa.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:44 pm

Writsbands are not going to stop a determined underaged person from drinking but they CAN stop me from willingly serving them and make it more difficult for them to obtain inebrieants. While I am interested in seeing to the health and welfare of minors, I am also interested in keeping my own ass out of a sling.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:10 pm

Make that a triple not-so-secret suspension. With a twist.

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:12 am

geekster wrote:Writsbands are not going to stop a determined underaged person from drinking but they CAN stop me from willingly serving them and make it more difficult for them to obtain inebrieants. While I am interested in seeing to the health and welfare of minors, I am also interested in keeping my own ass out of a sling.

Exactly!

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:45 am

How is a wristband going to last 10 days?

bartholomew · Post by **bartholomew** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:28 pm

How is a wristband going to last 10 days?

We tattoo it on.

2004 Citation Stats/underage drinking

2004 Citation Stats/underage drinking

silver lining of a dark cloud