12 Reasons to change Port Huron ’s Alcohol Ordinances  

  1. This is America the land of the Free where the US Constitution guarantees our individual rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  This country was founded on the principles of freedom not on the principles of tyranny. Americans are not supposed to seek permission from their government to exercise their freedom. Nor does government sanction every activity that it does not outlaw.
  1. America is a country ruled by laws not a country ruled by men. No one is above the law and no one should have the power to selectively choose when to enforce a law and when to look the other way.  Selectively enforcing a law destroys the rule of law necessary for a just society. Port Huron has ordinances that prohibit alcohol in many places yet seldom if ever enforces those ordinances. Each summer there is open consumption of alcohol in public places such as parks and Police Officers walk right by choosing not to enforce the law they see being broken. Mean while a law abiding citizen follows the law and gets mocked for following the law by those who break it.
  1. Selective enforcement of a law opens the city up to law suits. If a police officer suddenly decides to enforce this law and the person sues the city saying they were unfairly picked on they would have a very strong case. It would be easy to get a picture of police going past people enjoying a beer and not enforcing the law. 
  1. Strongly enforcing the current ordinances will drive more people and more events away from Port Huron at a time Port Huron needs to bring people back
  2. One of the biggest problems with the ordinances I am seeking to repeal is that they define private property as a public place. Private property is not public property and the owner of that property has rights that these ordinances take away.  
  1. One such ordinance makes it illegal for a company to have a Christmas party or other party at their place of business if any alcohol is involved. This law is never enforced so why have the law. In addition the same company can have the same party in someone’s backyard and it’s perfectly legal. What is so different that one must remain illegal while the other is legal? 
  1. Another example is it is illegal for the owner of a repair shop to sit down in his or her own shop at the end of the day and enjoy a beer with their crew in celebration of good hard days work. Again this law is never enforced and violates the property owner’s rights. In this case the same owner can have them stop by their house and the same activity is legal.  
  1. Many of the concerns about making this change revolve around activities that some fear will increase such as under age drinking, drunk and disorderly conduct or drunk driving. All of these illegal activities will still be illegal so why would more people suddenly start doing them?
  1. Another unjustified fear is that there will be drunks hanging out on every corner or all over every park every day.  It is currently legal to stand in your own driveway and enjoy a beer. I do not see drunks hanging out in every driveway. The reason is that there is nothing exciting going on in their driveway or at the corner so there is no reason to hang out there as there is plenty of other (all ready legal places) to hang out where there is something to do.
  1. Many events such as the Taste of Chicago, Montrose Detroit Jazz Festival, Arts Beats and Eats, Concert of Colors etc… are possible due to sponsorships from beer or wine companies and or thru the money raised during the event from selling Beer and Wine to those who care to enjoy a drink.  Not allowing alcohol in parks or other public places makes this type of events not economically viable in Port Huron . Allowing alcohol at these events might make them economically viable and may bring some similar if not smaller scale events to Port Huron along with the people who attend them.
  1. Many popular destinations allow people to enjoy a glass of wine or beer at the beach or in the park.  Mackinac Island, Ann Arbor , Europe for example.
  1. The parks and beaches are paid for by both those who support this freedom and those who oppose this freedom. The hours at which our parks or beaches are open or allow alcohol can be specified.  Part of a park or beach can be designated as alcohol free so that both those who want to enjoy a glass of wine and those who want no part of it can enjoy the parks and beaches that we all pay for.    

 

 

Mark Byrne

Port Huron City Council

Chairman Libertarian Party of St Clair and Sanilac counties