Editorial: Drunken driving plan went too far

Friday, June 20, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

On Wednesday the Las Vegas City Council considered a proposal to require the promoters of large events where alcohol is served to provide designated drivers for customers who have too much to drink. The group Stop DUI, which backed the proposal, said operators of such events need to take responsibility for preventing drunken driving. The proposal's supporters said it could curtail drunken driving from rock concerts and events such as the St. Patrick's Day party downtown and the Cinco de Mayo celebration. But the City Council shelved the plan for now, seeking more research on the matter.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald was correct to question the proposal because it singled out special events attended by more than 1,000 people. Taverns and casinos, where a considerable amount of drinking occurs, wouldn't have been covered under the proposal. The logistics involved in finding rides for dozens of people and their cars -- maybe more -- also seemed daunting. And what if there were too many drunk drivers and not enough designated drivers? Would the promoter be legally liable if a drunken driver tried to make it home on his own but hurt somebody in a wreck? One way to reduce drunken driving at special events is to cut off the sale of alcohol at a set time. For instance, some success has been found at ballparks and football stadiums where the sale of alcohol is banned after a specific inning or quarter.

Government, particularly at the state level, hasn't been aggressive in preventing drunken driving. We have supported Stop DUI's efforts to toughen the state's drunken-driving standards in the past, but there were too many problems and unanswered questions about this proposal that argued against its adoption.