Chicago City Council Approves Party Bus Crackdown Ordinance

CHICAGO, IL — The City Council approved an ordinance in a meeting today that declares party bus drivers will be held responsible for the actions of their rowdy and intoxicated passengers.

Party buses are a popular option for partygoers that drink on the bus, and then get dropped off in front of bars and clubs. While well liked among many Chicagoans, Aldermen are becoming increasingly frustrated with the inappropriate behavior of many of the riders — causing the Aldermen to establish a crackdown, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

This crackdown would require drivers of party buses to take "corrective action," whether that's evicting inebriated offenders, terminating the trip and returning all passengers to their point of origin, or calling the police.

The ordinance would prohibit passengers under the age of 21 from consuming or possessing alcohol. All passengers would be prohibited from engaging in disorderly conduct, discharging a weapon, possessing drug paraphernalia, hurling things from the party bus, committing indecent exposure, littering, and unlawfully possessing or using marijuana, The Chicago Sun-Times reports.

If riders commit any of these actions, the driver is required under the ordinance to demand that the passenger refrain from the behavior or leave the vehicle. If they do not comply, drivers must terminate the trip or call the Chicago Police Department.

During a License Committee hearing last week, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) told the crowd of a frightening incident involving party buses that took place over Labor Day weekend at the Rock 'N' Roll McDonald's in River North.

“Two trolleys were side-by-side in the lane of traffic and the guests on each trolley were taunting each other and yelling at each other and threatening one another and ultimately, a firearm was discharged,” Reilly said, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. "The police were very responsive and they managed it. But, they also had to deal with 80 very drunk trolley passengers…These trolleys, at a certain point, might literally turn into a rolling tinder box full of inebriated individuals who are then delivered to the doorstep of bars and nightclubs."

Reilly claimed that the party bus drivers were indifferent towards the passengers' actions. He also said the party buses are a "major drain" on the already strained police resources.

“There was a total lack of accountability when it came to the driver managing his or her vehicle. A lot of shrugs and, ‘Not my problem’ when confronted by officers about the condition of their guests,” Reilly said, The Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Violators will face fines rangers from $250 to $500 for their first offense, $500 to $1,000 for their second offense, and up to $1,500 for three or more offenses within the same calendar year.

“We are certainly not encouraging trolley or bus drivers to become the police and intervene physically. The intent here is not to put any of the drivers at risk. My guess is that it will become the standard operating procedure for them to simply text or call the Police Department for assistance,” Reilly said.

Photo courtesy of Bill Ogg Photography/Flickr