Cops Prepare to Ticket Boozers During Pride Parade

Those looking to crack a beer at Chicago’s Pride Parade Sunday beware: police say they fully intend to uphold the new, stricter ordinance regarding drinking near parade routes.

City Council approved the ordinance with harsher punishments and tighter restrictions on drinking and intoxication during parades in February. At the time all eyes were on the South Side Irish Parade, but now officials are turning their attention to Pride.

Police say ticketing every drinker is admittedly tough, with the annual North Side parade bringing in upwards of 850,000 people last Pride season.

Sgt. Jason Clark with Chicago’s 19th District Police Department says his team will still focus on controlling as much public drinking as possible.

“We’re going to have a strong presence, but any time that you have any kind of event that attracts that amount of people, safety is our No. 1 concern,” Clark said. “… In the past, we tried to do what we could, but it just got to the point where it was a little too much. … Our focus is going to be to try and curb the drinking around the parade with a big emphasis on the quality of life, primarily.”

Focusing largely on quality of life, like public urination, is something Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) said in the past is a larger concern. In a more recent interview, the alderman said when it comes to the parade, he wants also wants to focus on safety.

“My only advice for Pride and Pride activities are let’s be safe and respectful of each other,” Tunney told ChicagoPride.com earlier in June. “I try to bring a bit of sobriety to this especially with the city cracking down on open containers. Lake View is one center stage for the month of June."

The ordinance increases the punishment of those found in violation within 200 feet of a parade route. It will apply to all parades within the city. 

• Drinking on the public way increases from a minimum of $100 and maximum of $500, to a minimum of $500 and maximum of $1,000.
• Intoxication by a minor rises from $25 for the first violation and $100 for subsequent violations to $500 or 25 hours of community service.
• Public urination or defecation will increase from a minimum of $100 and maximum of $500, to $500 and $1,000 respectively.

Clark said he does not anticipate many problems, and his team just wants everyone to have an enjoyable time.