Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
CLOVIS — The alcohol citation issued during the Curry County Fair last week was the second served on the Curry County Events Center in less than three months, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Events Center General Manager Joelle Reed said Wednesday that state police also issued a citation June 3 for serving an intoxicated person.
Details on that citation were not immediately available from Reed or officials of the state Regulation and Licensing Department, who said an investigation was ongoing.
The Aug. 17 citation issued for serving alcohol to a minor could mark the “second strike” against the Events Center in a 12-month period, meaning potential for hefty consequences if a third citation occurs before June 3, 2018.
“It all depends on whether or not they’re found at fault,” said RLD Deputy Superintendent Alex Sanchez. “Normally what happens on the first citation is a one-day suspension of the license and a $1,000 fine. The second one is a $3,000 fine and a seven-day suspension.”
A determination of fault in either case is still pending results of state police investigation and an RLD hearing. That can take time, Sanchez said.
The most common consequence for a third citation in a one-year time frame is a 14-day license suspension and $10,000 fine. Ultimately, RLD has discretion in making those decisions, Sanchez said.
The fact of no immediate license suspension coming to the Events Center in either case indicates the offenses were not so egregious as to warrant immediate action, she added.
“For us it’s all about safe alcohol consumption. New Mexico has a very lucrative beer and wine industry and we want to make sure people are enjoying those but doing it in a very safe way,” she said. “We want to make sure that servers are very well-versed and feel comfortable and supported in cutting off someone.”
Reed said Tuesday the employee involved in the incident last week is no longer employed by the Events Center. She would not address whether a specific employee was penalized following the June citation but said Spectra Venue Management is still working on an internal investigation.
