Iowa City moving forward with tiered fines for 21 ordinance violators

Iowa City officials say they're receptive to reducing the fine for first-time violators of the city's relatively new 21 ordinance.

The city council discussed the idea at a work session on Monday night. City Clerk Marian Karr said city staff is working on writing the ordinance and it will likely see a vote later this month.

Since the city's controversial 21-only bar ordinance was implemented last summer, patrons under 21 in Iowa City bars after 10 p.m. are can be slapped with a $500 ticket. After court fees, that ends up costing violators more than $700.

University of Iowa Student Government's city council liason has been lobbying to lower that fee.

“It's a large financial burden,” Elliot Higgins said. “I brought up penalties for other violations in Iowa City and this is much bigger.”

Some have referred to the current proposal as lowering the fine. Actually, the tiered system would increase the penalty for repeat offenders.

The current $500 fine doesn't increase for repeat offenders. The new ordinance would call for a $300 fine for first-timers, $500 on the second offense, and $625 on all subsequent violations.