NORTHAMPTON — Standing in front of the Northampton License Commission Wednesday, Packard’s Bar owner Robert McGovern held up a T-shirt he gives to patrons who call an Uber for a ride home.
“Packard’s says O.U.I., Don’t Do It, Call Uber” the T-shirt reads.
McGovern said he made the T-shirt after a report published by the Boston Globe in December 2016 that lists Massachusetts bars and restaurants with the most “place of last drink” reports.
The report documents each instance in which a bar or restaurant allegedly served the last drink to an intoxicated person who was then arrested and convicted of OUI. Judges will ask convicted OUI defendants where they had their last drink and record the information.
The Globe reviewed 8,364 PLD reports in Massachusetts following OUI convictions between January 2012 and September 2016.
Packard’s, 14 Masonic St., is one of three popular Northampton establishments on the list.
Bishop’s Lounge, 41 Strong Ave., was tied for sixth among the Massachusetts liquor establishments with the most PLD reports with 29, according to the Globe’s report.
Packard’s tied for 12th with three other establishments on the list with 24 PLD reports, according to the analysis.
Diva’s nightclub, now closed, also made the list.
In response to the report, the Northampton License Commission scheduled a discussion for Wednesday’s meeting.
Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper gave an overview of the department’s policies and procedures when it comes to drunken-driving enforcement.
The department does random bar checks between the hours of 1 and 2 a.m., she said. The officers look to see if bars are in compliance with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission policies and procedures, such as proper posting of the liquor license and ensuring doors are closed after 1 a.m.
Last year, the department did 243 bar checks, Kasper said.
“We already go above and beyond with our checking of bars,” Kasper said.
As for drunken driving, Kasper said about 95 percent of OUI arrests occur on the midnight shift.
“The midnight officers are just fantastic,” Kasper said.
Kasper said, when there is aggressive enforcement on drunken driving, there will be more arrests. The department has trained drug recognition experts and officers trained to look for signs of alcohol consumption, Kasper said.
Last year, the department recorded about 150 OUI arrests on the midnight shift — which Kasper says is a lot.
The commission also issued a license suspension to Volkan Polatol, owner of Bishop’s Lounge, for alleged failure to ask for identification Dec. 26 in a case involving an intoxicated 20-year-old.
Polatol said the girl went into the bar to look for her mother, but the bartender quickly recognized her and told her to leave.
The commissioners issued the establishment a one-day suspension for three months and a two-day suspension for six months.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.