Reporting unlawful activity by liquor establishments

ORDINANCE NO. 2025-04

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN ADDITION TO CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE 2 OF THE PIERCE MUNICIPAL CODE TO REQUIRE THE REPORTING OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY BY LICENSED LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENTS.WHEREAS, the Town of Pierce ("Town") wishes to recognize the safety of all patrons and staff of licensed liquor establishments by adding a provision to Chapter 6 of the Pierce Municipal Code to require the reporting of unlawful activity committed in or on the licensed premises to the Police Department; and.WHEREAS, the Town desires to avoid unlawful activity occurring in or on licensed premises going unreported during the time the activity was occurring; andWHEREAS, such activity creates a safety risk to members of the public, patrons, and staff in the establishment and the reporting of this activity would reduce the risk of harm to such parties; andWHEREAS, the Town hereby determines that it is necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Town to implement an ordinance requiring the reporting of unlawful activities by licensed liquor establishments;NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Trustees of the Town of Pierce, Colorado as follows:

1. Addition to Pierce Municipal Code. Chapter 6, Article 02, Section 6-2-100 of the Pierce Municipal Code is hereby added and reads in its entirety as follows:

6-2-100. - Report of Unlawful Activity.

• (a) All licensees and permit holders, and any agent, manager or employee thereof, shall immediately report to the Police Department any unlawful or disorderly act, conduct or disturbance committed in or on the licensed premises.
• (b) Each licensee and permit holder shall post and keep at all timed visible to the public in a conspicuous place on the premises, a sign with a minimum height of fourteen (14) inches and a minimum width of eleven (11) inches with each letter to be a minimum of one-half (1/2) inch in height, which shall read as follows: 

• "WARNING: The Police Department must be notified of all disorderly acts, conduct or disturbances and all unlawful activities which occur on or within the premises of this licensed establishment."

• (c) It shall not be a defense to a prosecution of a licensee or permit holder under this section that the licensee was not personally present on the premises at the time such unlawful activity, disorderly act, conduct or disturbance was committed; however, no agent servant or employee of the licensee shall be held personally responsible for failing to report an unlawful or disorderly act, conduct or disturbance hereunder if such agent, servant or employee was absent from the premises at the time such activity was committed.
• (d) Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall be considered by the Licensing Authority in any action relating to the issuance, revocation, suspension or nonrenewal of a license or the cancellation, revocation, or suspension of a temporary or special events permit. A violation of this section shall also constitute a misdemeanor offense, punishable as provided in section 1.12.010 of this code.

1. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty days after publication as required by law.

PASSED, ADOPTED, SIGNED AND APPROVED this the 8th day of September, 2025.ATTESTED: TOWN OF PIERCE, COLORADO__________________________________
 Tina Duran, Town Clerk___________________________________
 Cathy Ortiz, Mayor