Can a cop just park on private property in a bar parking lot without owners consent?

[jkj]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ga

We've expressly stated we don't want them just camping out in the parking lot but they said they have the right to inspection bc we serve alcohol. I believe that but I don't believe the right to inspection gives them the right to park all night does it?

 

[jkj]

This is a nightclub.

 

[justalayman]

so, go tell them to leave the property and if they refuse, call the police (presumably the same department these guys are from) and tell them you have trespassers you would like removed from your premises.

 

[jkj]

Well we don't want that contentious of a relationship with them but I'm just trying to make sure we are in the right.

 

[justalayman]

Well we don't want that contentious of a relationship with them but I'm just trying to make sure we are in the right.

Then what do you want? You asked them to leave. They refused. You either take action to demand they leave or realize that they are not going to leave and from that point on, commenting on the situation is simply bemoaning a situation you refuse to do anything about.

 

[jkj]

Well he actually left but then brought us back the alcohol policy after closing that says police have the right to inspection. I just want to know we are in the right before we approach the chief to have a conversation about this.

 

[justalayman]

then tell them to get on with their inspection and then leave the premises. Setting in your lot is not inspecting your operation.

 

[Captian Picard]

Well we don't want that contentious of a relationship with them but I'm just trying to make sure we are in the right.

It will result in a contentious relationship ... your move.

 

[Zigner]

I'd love to see how that turns out...I can see it now...OP's going to be back complaining that several cruisers sit on the public street just outside his business every night and he's losing business.

 

[jkj]

Lol yeah I'm not really sure that's kinda where I saw it going if they were pissy about it. Damned if you do Damned if you don't kinda situation. They don't hassle the other bar like this.

 

[CdwJava]

If the bar and the lot are open to the general public, and you have a business license and a liquor license, the police are going to stay if they want to.

If you don't want them parking in the lot, they can always park on the street, walk in, and stand by the front door. Would you prefer that?

Perhaps if you explain what the real issue is with the officers in the lot? Is it that they are catching people staggering out of the club after having been served too much? Underage? Following people and making DUI arrests?

If they are causing a "hassle" it might be because there is a perceived problem with the place, or the patrons attending the business. In my town we have a number of bars, but only one where there are nightly issues. The owner there complains that we are hassling them. Well, no, we're watching the place and making more walk throughs because there are more problems in that particular bar and just outside of it. We don't give the other places nearly as much attention because they are not involved in the same level of trouble.

Unless GA is out of step with much of the rest of the country, you don't have much of a leg to stand on here. And I doubt it is a fight that a nightclub owner wants to have.

 

[CdwJava]

then tell them to get on with their inspection and then leave the premises. Setting in your lot is not inspecting your operation.

Yeah, but darn that public place, business permit and liquor license stuff that gives the police all sorts of rights to do a great many things there. GA may be different than much of the rest of the country, but out here when i am on duty I can pretty much hang out behind the bar, at the door, in the lot, at the door, next to the pool tables, or whatever I want in a bar or nightclub without much recourse. I actually recall arresting a bouncer and a bartender once for trying to refuse to allow me entry ... boy, did they get a rectal exam by the police for the next few weeks! (They were a tad embarrassed by their selling to underage customers, I guess.)

 

[jkj]

Our main issue is following leaving customers or the perception that that is happening. We try to run a clean business. But a lot of ppl in general don't like to goto a bar with cops just hanging out. The particular officer has made comments he wanted to shut the location down.

Unless GA is out of step with much of the rest of the country, you don't have much of a leg to stand on here. And I doubt it is a fight that a nightclub owner wants to have.

precisely we'd rather get along. I'm not sure what the bigger issue is here. The other location is known for serving underagers, but we've definitely had some fights.

 

[DUIAttyPCho]

Yes. The police can. And if they do, they have a good a reason to. You want the police off your back? Then control your clients and stop having incidents at your bar. I'm sure the police would rather being doing other things than having to hang out at your bar because you can't control your clients.

 

[CdwJava]

Maybe a friendly chat with the Chief about the impact the officers are having on business, and, perhaps any unprofessional comments or actions by the officers. But, arguing that they do not have a right to be there is a loser.

Be reasonable and logical. And, you may have to take steps to improve communications with the police including, perhaps, a policy where YOU call the cops if there are problems.