La Crosse committee considers adopting new state rules on social hosting tonight

Tonight, La Crosse police will likely get one step closer to being able to enforce rules for social hosting in the city.

A city council committee tonight is set to adopt new state rules for social hosting that will lead to $500 tickets for adults who allow underagers to drink on their property.

The city’s fine was more than $1,000 before police stopped enforcing social hosting. The old law made local social hosting rules all over the Wisconsin unenforceable after a state Supreme Court ruling in 2016.

The city created a social host ordinance in 2014 but suspended enforcement after the court’s ruling.

The new state law, adopted last month, was written to address loopholes in the old law.