Police Chief Ron Sampson said he would like for city leaders to revisit its nightclub hours of operation ordinances in an effort to resolve some confusion that has developed recently.
Appearing before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Sampson said his department has continued to have issues with hours of operation with certain establishments.
Sampson said there needs to be clarification surrounding nightclubs and other organizations, such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
“Two of the organizations (the American Legion and VFW) feel that they are exempt from having to abide by the twelve o’clock rule,” Sampson said. “The only thing they are exempt from is security.”
According to the city ordinances, it is unlawful “to sell, give, dispense or permit to be consumed in or upon said premises any beer, light wine, or other alcoholic beverages between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m. or to conduct business, to be open to conduct business or allow patrons or anyone to remain on the premises between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.”
Along the lines of onsite security, “one security officer shall be provided as required in this section when 50 or more patrons are present; and two security officers shall be provided as required in this section when 150 or more patrons are present; and one additional security officer shall be provided as required by this section for each additional 100 patrons.”
However, when it comes security, the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Affairs do not have the same regulations within the city ordinance.
According to the city’s security ordinance, “the provisions of this section shall not apply to any establishment which derives 50 percent or more of its gross income from food sales and whose expenditures for food inventory is an amount equal to or exceeding 50 percent of its total expenditures or to private and fraternal organizations such as the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Affairs, holding licenses or permits to dispense within the city limits of the City of Yazoo City, Mississippi.”
Sampson said his “phone has been blowing up” about the issue.
“Other nightclub owners are concerned and complaining of the American Legion and VFW closing times,” Sampson said. “But the American Legion and VFW’s labels need clarification because they generally lease out their venues for reunions, club parties. Their function is not to operate as a club.”
Sampson asked city leaders to revisit the matter to establish where the city stands on who gets to stay open and who must close.
“Both sides have arguments,” Sampson said. “Of course, the biggest argument is that ‘I have to close, and the others can stay open.’ I dealt with that a lot this weekend and the weekend before. I would like to clear up any ambiguities on both sides so that we are all protected.”
