Senator says booze ban in Nevada parks is dead

Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark Amodei says his committee won't pass a bill to outlaw drinking in state parks -- although members still want to stop rowdyism at Lake Lahontan State Park.

Amodei, R-Carson City, said Thursday that problems with drinkers are believed to be limited to the park near Fallon and don't affect the 23 other state parks. He said he'll try to find money in the state budget to hire additional seasonal employees for the Lake Lahontan park.

His committee heard northern Nevada resident Bill Service complain about how he and his family were harassed by a group of youths drinking during a camping trip to Lake Lahontan. Service said he complained to State Parks Division officials about the incident but they have not satisfied his concerns.

At his urging, Sen. Ray Shaffer, R-North Las Vegas, introduced SB282 that would ban people from drinking alcoholic beverages at any state park.

But no one told the Senate Judiciary Committee about having problems with drinkers at any other state park. The hearing was teleconferenced to Las Vegas, but no one there made any comments about the bill.