Published Tuesday, May 06, 2008 9:22 AM
Updated Tuesday, May 06, 2008 9:22 AM

 

Last call at 2 a.m. passes third reading

Berkeley County Council made it official in its monthly meeting last week: if you’re planning to come to Berkeley County to drink, be prepared to call it a night by 2 a.m.

In a unanimous vote, Berkeley County followed suit with neighboring counties in the Charleston area by passing the third and final reading on a 2 a.m. last call, a move that has upset some local watering holes.

Dorchester and Charleston counties have adopted similar ordinances. The movement to curb late night violent crime started when the town of Mount Pleasant closed all-night bars and the City of Charleston quickly followed suit.

Berkeley County Sheriff Wayne DeWitt feels the new ordinance is good for all concerned parties in Berkeley County.

“My momma said nothing good happens after 2 a.m.,” he said. “I’m glad county council passed the ordinance. We are serious about keeping that criminal element out of Berkeley County, and if establishments don’t adhere to the new ordinance and close by 2 a.m. we are now in a position where we can seek an injunction and close them down.”

When Sheriff’s office spokesperson Blair Jennings introduced the ordinance to Berkeley County Council in February, he included a folder of police reports more than an inch thick containing violent crimes, assault and DUI incidents that occurred after 2 a.m.

“Our local law enforcement had been stretched thin and put in harm’s way answering calls that occur after 2 a.m.,” DeWitt said. “We reviewed statistics on crimes committed in and around those night clubs and bars that stay open late and the statistics revealed those crimes took place after 2 a.m. and as late as 4 or 5 a.m. in the morning.”

The new ordinance was unanimously approved.

In other council business, a nine-month moratorium on residential developments that want to cluster homes was approved.

Clustering homes allows developers to cram more homes into less space so long as green space is provided elsewhere. This moratorium will halt such clustering until a new ordinance that specifies usable green space is adopted.

“We need to preserve the aesthetic beauty of rural Berkeley County,” said councilman Jack Schurlknight.