Almost every weekend, the San Carlos Police Department devotes a great deal of manpower and resources to quell fights and drunk-and-disorderly conduct at some of San Carlos ’ drinking establishments. Mind you, I’m not a teetotaler – I like a glass of wine or a Mojito or a Corona now and then.  Nor am I a killjoy about parties.

But, at a time when we have a greatly reduced staffing situation with our police department, the issue with unruly people at some of the city’s bars and nightclubs warrants a closer look.  Why should we be concerned about this?  Because when the police are responding to bar brawls, they are not patrolling our neighborhoods.  This was the case when vandals slashed the tires of 45 vehicles in White Oaks earlier this year.

Last Friday night, a dustup at one watering hole required a response by the entire police night shift AND a call to Belmont Police Department for backup.  If you count the cost of engaging 8-10 police vehicles for this fracas, and writing up reports, are we into some serious expense here?

One might ask:  Is it fair for one segment of our business community to create such labor-intensive oversight by our publicly-financed and undermanned police department?

Here is a fact:  There are currently 67 establishments in San Carlos that have licenses from ABC to serve alcoholic beverages.  More are on the way, as downtown San Carlos continues its transition from small retail stores and banks to a bustling nightclub and restaurant environment.  Of course, we love our restaurants – they’re among the best in the Bay Area, in my view.  But the boozin’ is getting out of hand.  Just this morning I saw vomit on a Laurel Street sidewalk bench outside of one of the bars.  And officers tell me that public urination is increasing. Ugh!  Who is responsible for cleaning up this mess?

Here’s what’s happened:  Our city now has such a profile as an eating-and-drinking destination – especially the latter – that tour companies are bringing busloads of drinkers to our downtown and turning them loose to go bar-hopping. Some of these bars and nightclubs have been featured on San Francisco TV shows, making them magnets for the entire Bay Area.    Further, the recession and attendant personal woes of people have increased the stress-drinking and, thus, the altercations.

From what I’ve heard, the bar owners and managers do their best to control patrons, with bouncers and video cameras present.  But when crowds get big, stuff goes on and almost every weekend, there is an escalation that requires the police to send multiple units.

What’s the solution?  In my view, we as San Carlos residents are subsidizing bad behavior.  A handful of places are allowed to monopolize the late-night hours of our police patrols, especially on weekends.  One question I would throw out (rather than up): Should the ongoing trouble spots pay extra for repeat police services?

Let me provide this analogy:  Many cities charge homeowners if police respond to more than two or three false alarms from a burglar alarm system.  Those responses consume time and manpower, and distract from the real needs of preventative patrol and catching criminals.  So one might pose the question: Why should bars be immune from the same treatment?

Any thoughts about this?