City may mandate bar closing times
Published Monday, August 4, 2008
NATCHEZ — You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.
In the future, bar owners within city limits may be saying this earlier than desired.
Mayor Jake Middleton said he is considering an ordinance, which would mandate bars to close at 2 a.m.
“We have a certain area of town that we get a little bit of a problem from down on Main Street,” he said. “We get complaints from some of the residents that live downtown, especially the late hours when bars are open.”
He also said litter is a problem, especially broken beer bottles.
Middleton said while bar owners might try to keep their areas policed and clean, it’s hard to control all the time.
He said if this ordinance were to happen, no part of the city would be left out.
“It would be a citywide ordinance if it were put into place,” Middleton said.
He said he hasn’t discussed it with the board of aldermen.
“As far as the board actively doing any research or discussion, we have not at this point,” he said.
Middleton said he doesn’t think closing the bars will do anything to decrease crime.
Police Chief Mike Mullins said he doesn’t believe it would increase crime either.
Mullins said people will just adjust to the change and learn to start going out earlier in the evening.
“They mayor and I have not discussed that, but if it’s being looked into, I’m sure we’ll discuss it very shortly,” Mullins said.