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License Suspension Pending for The
Station Pub in Bellingham
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December 22, 2004
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Liquor Control Board has
issued an Administrative Violation Notice to The Station Pub in
Bellingham and proposes cancellation of its liquor license for
repeated violations of state liquor laws.
The licensee has appealed the AVN and the license cancellation, which
was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 18, 2005.
The Station Pub, 1309 Railroad Ave., could continue to operate until
an administrative hearing on its appeal is concluded, but the Board
also could issue an emergency suspension of up to 180 days if it finds
that immediate action is necessary to protect public health and
safety.
“The emergency suspension is an option we exercise when there is a
clear disregard for the laws and the community is clearly in peril
based on that disregard,” said Tom Dixon, a supervisor with the
Board’s Enforcement & Education Division. “An emergency suspension is
not being sought in this pending case.”
“Should a licensee facing cancellation appear to be callously
disregarding the liquor laws in the period leading up to a hearing,
the immediate suspension could be imposed,” Dixon added
Liquor enforcement officers issued the violation notice that resulted
in the proposed license suspension following a Dec. 3 premises check
by Liquor Enforcement Officers, which was conducted in response to an
anonymous complaint received earlier that week. The complaint alleged
overservice of liquor and officers report that when they checked the
premises they observed an apparently intoxicated customer in
possession of a beer.
“This is the fourth detected violation for overservice in 12 ˝ months
at this location and that’s simply unacceptable,” Dixon said. “We’ve
worked closely with this licensee and the community and it appears
that preventative measures aren’t working.”
The Liquor Control Board has received numerous complaints from
citizens, local businesses and law enforcement over the past 13 months
alleging overservice at The Station Pub. On May 25, 2004 the Board
suspended the establishment’s license for seven days and neighboring
businesses reported significantly fewer problems with chronic public
inebriates during that time.
It is a violation in Washington to serve alcohol to an apparently
intoxicated person or allow an apparently intoxicated person to
possess alcohol on a licensed premise. A first violation calls for a
five-day license suspension with an option to pay a $500 fine in lieu
of suspension. A second violation within a two-year window calls for a
five-day suspension or a $2,500 fine. A third violation warrants a
10-day license suspension or a $5,000 fine.
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For more information, please contact
Sharon Michael.
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