Pub crawls in Arlington may never be the same again: County leaders have approved changes to create new regulations on the evening event.
The county board said since bars and promoters are the ones benefiting from the crowds that they should foot the bill for extra police and trash clean up. The board voted unanimously to make the changes, citing public safety as one of the reasons.
Last month, a 22-year-old man participating in the All American Pub Crawl stripped at a bar in Clarendon and ran, naked, from police. He drove away and hit several cars before he was arrested.
Charles Mack was charged with indecent exposure, driving while intoxicated, disregarding police demands, three counts of hit and run, and one count of possession of narcotics.
“It is just common sense to manage pub crawls,” said Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette. “For the most part, these events are both fun for the participants and profitable for local businesses, and that’s great. But they must be conducted safely, and in a way that respects the rights and privileges of affected residents and businesses.”
The county manager will decide how much the businesses will be charged to hold their events.
