Sheriff says new Iowa City 21-under law could lower jail bookings

Sheriff's officials in Johnson County say Iowa City's new ordinance limiting entry to bars to those aged 21 and over after 10 p.m. could affect the number of bookings at the county jail.

Statistics show 18 to 20-year-olds make up one-third of the public intoxication arrests at the Johnson County Jail. Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek says a reduction is "definitely possible" although "it's a bit of an unknown."

Pulkrabek says the real change would come in altering Iowa City's reputation as a party location for out-of-towners.

Jail statistics show students from the University of Iowa account for 29 percent of the public intoxication bookings.

The sheriff says fewer public intoxication arrests would mean officers could spend their time on more serious crimes.