It may cost much more to "drink yourself silly" on the South Side next March.
Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) introduced an ordinance Wednesday that would increase public drunkenness fines at parades to between $500-$1,000, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The fines would be implemented at city parades, and is especially targeted toward the South Side Irish Parade, which returned this year in a much more family-friendly way after it was canceled for being too rowdy.
O’Shea's ordinance would provide an alternative of six months in jail instead of the higher fines.
The higher fines or even jail time would be leveled at individuals caught drinking or urinating on the public way within 200 feet of a parade. O’Shea said the South Side parade has been "hijacked by idiots," the newspaper reported.
Parade organizers instituted a zero-tolerance policy at the revamped 2012 parade, resulting in just one misdemeanor arrest all day.
