Lakeview-area police officers want Pride revelers to know that the city's steeper fines for public drinking will actually be enforced at this years' LGBT Pride Festivities.
At a beat meeting last week, Chicago Police Department commander Elias Voulgaris, of the 19th district, which includes Lakeview, warned that police officers will be issuing tickets for public drinking along the Pride parade route on June 29, and at Pride Fest, which runs from June 21 to 22, according to a report by DNAInfo.
Last year, City Hall increased fines for public drinking, urinating in the public way within 200 feet of a parade route and other "quality of life" crimes to between $400 and $1,000, depending on the offense.
Adam Collins, a CPD spokesman, said in an email there would be "zero tolerance for drinking on the public way during festivities, as has been the case at many major events throughout the city."
The Pride Parade route runs from Montrose Avenue to Diversey Avenue along Halsted Street and Broadway. Pride Fest, has concerts scheduled throughout the weekend before the parade in Boystown, including a performance by Jennifer Hudson.