Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay organizers said Saturday post-race festivities drew stricter law enforcement this year, but

police chief Gary Lowe said there was "no change" from 2010 regarding the borough’s policy on open containers of alcohol.

"(Officers) gave out a lot of warnings and did issue one citation to somebody with open alcohol but, overall, it was a very quiet, peaceful event,"

Lowe said.

Resident Chip Lende, a bike race board member, said campers at the Fort Seward parade grounds celebrated after the grueling ride from Haines Junction, Y.T., to Haines, and he was "surprised to see the Haines Police patrolling through there, looking to cite people for open containers."1,000 riders to Haines.

"The issue is not whether it’s a rule or not in the city, but that it seemed to be accepted for 19 years, and then all of a sudden the city was cracking down on it, and I’m not sure why," Lende said.

He said most of the campers who park at the parade grounds the night of the race "aren’t driving anywhere."

Lende said he would have preferred communication from the police department before the event that drew more than

His wife, Heather Lende, a cyclist and volunteer, said "a number of people were upset" and "if anybody ever goes up there and sees how nice the parade grounds are left afterwards, it’s not like it’s a rowdy crowd." She said bike race participants should be encouraged to stay overnight and support Haines businesses.

Chief Lowe said his officers were sticking to borough code, which states it is unlawful "to possess an open bottle, can, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage … or to consume alcoholic beverages upon the public streets or highways or in any public place other than a premises covered by a liquor control license."

Lowe said the parade grounds had a designated drinking area run by Hotel Halsingland with a special permit to serve alcohol, but guests couldn’t bring in their own alcohol.Lowe said.

He said the one citation issued Saturday at the parade grounds was for a repeat offender who already had been warned. The maximum fine is $300, and "a first offense is never that amount,"

Officers spent hours at the parade grounds last year, he said, giving verbal warnings for open containers and trying to spot any underage drinkers.

Lowe said the department was consistent with its enforcement and there’s been "no change in the borough code."

"Police enforce the law, and the law’s on the books," he said.

Ned Rozbicki, president of the Haines Chamber of Commerce, was out of town for the race, but said the Lendes’ concerns echoed those of visitors to Haines who couldn’t enter the sold-out 19th Annual Great Alaska Craft Beer and Homebrew Festival in May. He said problems arose both times because "discussion needs to happen before the guests arrive."

"Haines just really needs to figure out how to roll out the welcome mat," Rozbicki said.