Elgin bar fined $2,000 for overcrowding
An Elgin bar has been fined $2,000 for a February incident in which it had 16 people more than its allowed capacity.
On Wednesday afternoon, Elgin’s Liquor Control Commission handed the negotiated fine down to the Afterset bar, located near the police department.
The bar’s capacity is 80 people, but police reported that on Feb. 4 of this year, there were 96 patrons inside.
Bob Smith, the attorney representing the Afterset, said the bar has taken steps since then to keep the numbers down.
The bar now manages the crowd with counters and the manager does a walk through to double check the numbers, said Bob Smith, the attorney representing the Afterset.
“We’re just trying to be proactive and stay on top of this,” Smith said.
Elgin Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda said the bar has had no overcrowding ever since. Even so, commission member Tish Powell reiterated that the Afterset’s 4 a.m. liquor license is indeed a privilege.
“I know that we will probably be looking very closely at whether we will be entertaining any more of those 4 a.m. liquor licenses,” Powell said. “So I would just really strongly advise you to hold onto it dearly.”