Authorizes municipalities to adopt ordinances concerning consumption of alcoholic beverages by pedicab passengers.
Impact
The bill's main impact is on local municipalities, giving them the authority to regulate alcohol consumption in pedicabs through ordinances. This allows for more tailored legislation depending on community standards and preferences. Supporters argue that it promotes tourism and enhances the entertainment experience in urban areas where pedicabs are commonly used. Additionally, this law aligns New Jersey with other states that have embraced similar practices, potentially increasing local economic activity.
Summary
Assembly Bill A473 seeks to amend existing legislation governing the operation of pedicabs in New Jersey. The bill allows municipalities the discretion to permit pedicab passengers to consume alcoholic beverages while using these modes of transportation. This change is significant as it shifts the previous restriction, which limited municipalities from allowing such consumption, provided it complied with certain conditions, such as age restrictions and type of alcoholic beverages.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding A473 could arise regarding public safety and alcohol-related incidents. Some legislators may express concerns about the risk of intoxicated passengers and the responsibilities of pedicab operators to ensure safe conditions. Others may debate whether this empowers municipalities sufficiently or unnecessarily complicates regulation and enforcement. The bill presents a balance between enhancing business opportunities and maintaining public safety standards.
Exempting charitable raffle prizes of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages from the Kansas liquor control act, the club and drinking establishment act and the Kansas cereal malt beverage act; amending the spirits, wine and beer distributors law regulating samples; requiring monthly remittance of gallonage taxes regarding special order shipping of wine; allowing businesses to sell cereal malt beverage by the drink on Sundays without requiring that 30% of the gross receipts of such businesses be derived from the sale of food; permitting food establishments to allow dogs in outside areas on the premises and food establishments that are microbreweries to allow dogs in outside and inside areas on the premises notwithstanding certain provisions of the Kansas food code; amending the common consumption area law to permit rather than require roads be blocked and allowing designation of such areas by signage.