Is it true that police can't stop drinker within 1 mile radius from the bar?

Question

I have a business(bar restaurant) in Orange County, California. My business is in a separate building and has its own parking lot. My business has a license to serve beer and wine, so most of my customers come to my business do drink beer and wines. The problem I have is that the polices come to my business, and drive around my building so often during my business hours. This is really scare my customer away. They also park in the plaza next to my business, so as soon as my customer leave our bar, they pull them over and test for alcohol. Since this happened, rumor has spread around, so I lost a lot of customers, and this really effects my business. I've been loosing a lot of moneys for month. My question that is it legal for them to do that if it is how can stop this. Please help me, I really appreciate it. Thanks

P.S. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think they can not come to my business for no reason , and they can not stop my customer within 1 mile radius

Answer 1

They can stop him in the parking lot if he appears impaired. The one mile radius is bogus. Thank God. Drunks should not drive.

Answer 2

You are wrong. If they have probable cause they can pull anyone over. Maybe you had several customers who were drinking and driving so they are trying to fix the problem. California is very serious about its drunk driving rules. You as a business owner need to be responsible not to over serve your customers. If you do over serve them you can also be held liable if they hurt or kill anyone or get in any accident after leaving your bar. Learn the laws if you are going to have a liquor license.

Answer 3

This is an urban myth. A police officer may enter any public business during business hours without a warrant. They do not need a reason to enter maybe they want to eat! A police officer can stop a drunk driver in your parking lot.

Answer 4

In most states, they aren't allowed to perch within a certain distance from a bar. Sadly, I don't think any states have laws against pulling people over near a bar. It's considered police territory once the driver is on the road.

Answer 5

they can not come to your business for no reason what so ever, however they can come upon public domain (streets alleys parking lots) whenever they choose and as for the not being able to pull someone over within one mile of the bar is false, they can arrest someone who has been drinking for public intox if the keys are in the ignition, the car doesnt have to be on. and also you are legaly responsible for your patrons being served and aloud to drive. you can be sued if someone leaves your place and gets in an accident.

Answer 6

I had this problem once with a county sherif deputy.

I called the state police and demanded that they remove him from the parking lot.

10 minutes later two state trooper vehicles showed up and within 30 seconds on scene that county nazi was gone, never to be seen again.

Don't let a bad cop ruin your day. (I'm assuming that your not a dirtbag)

Answer 7

They can stop anyone at any time. They can follow you home and stop you in your driveway if they want to.

What do you care if you are not serving people that shouldn't be served?? The cops can stop them walking out of your bar, but if the customer is not legally drunk, the cops can't do anything, right?

Do you want it on your conscience that you caused someones death by serving a drunk guy "one more for the road"? I didn't think so.............

Answer 8

You are wrong, however, this could be considered entrapment. Contact your local congressman. Tell him that this has affected your business, and ask him what can be done about it. Where I live, in Louisiana, a bar owner was able to have the sheriff's department reprimanded for entrapment. They could not just sit and wait for bar patrons to leave bars any longer.

Answer 9

I have never heard of such a restriction on the police


Get yourself a beathalizer (a good one) and let people put a dollar in to test thier levels against the law in your area

Then make friends with the police if you can

Answer 10

The best way for you to get an accurate answer is to call your local police station and simply ask them. Laws are different everywhere, although I can't imagine some kind of law like that!

Answer 11

They can arrest a drunk customer 1 foot from your bar. You should closely consider your role in liability in serving a drunk customer. You could lose everything you own in addition to being responsible for getting somebody killed.