Eight cited in first month of Iowa City's 21-only law

The first month of Iowa City's 21-only law netted eight citations, officials say.

The eight people who received a ticket for "presence on premise after hours" were issued a $735 fine.

The new law, which bans people younger than 21 from bars after 10 p.m., took effect June 1. Previously, people 19 and older were allowed in bars at night.

The new 21-only policy, though, may not be here to stay. Officials said last week that a petition drive seeking to send the issue to the public for a November vote was successful.

The petition organizers, known as Y.E.S.S. (Yes to Entertaining Students Safely) to 19, firfst turned in their petition in mid-May, but city clerk Marian Karr said they were more than 1,200 short of the required 2,500 valid signatures. The petition was resubmitted with a total of with 2,961 valid signatures.

Establsihments that can prove that less than half of their revenue comes from alcohol sales can file an application to be exempted from the 21-only law, Karr said. So far, 30 business have been exempted from the 21-only law. The only establishment to be rejected for an exemption was The Summit, 10 South Clinton St. in Iowa City.