Bar Safe Program
Background
Since 2016, the Arlington County Police Department Business Outreach Unit’s Arlington Restaurant Initiative has focused on reducing violent crime associated with alcohol. Steadily, over the past three years, Clarendon has seen a decrease in assaults, assault by mob, and assaults on law enforcement. As part of our ongoing engagement with restaurants and business owners, they’ve asked that the focus of the program be expanded to address drunk and disorderly crimes affecting quality of life. The Bar Safe program was established to address this concern, increase awareness and reduce arrests for alcohol-related crimes in the Clarendon area through proactive outreach.
The Bar Safe program is modeled after the successful Gloucester UK City Safe Scheme, created in 2014, which identifies people who commit crimes in the city center and bans them from businesses collectively. In the City Safe Scheme, 140 businesses signed up for the partnership that works with local authorities to issue warnings to individuals committing crimes. An analysis of the City Safe Scheme also found:
- 83% of first time offenders did not have a second violation
- 2% of offenders committed 31% of all incidents in the city center
- 71% of visitors aged 18-35 are visiting the city center for restaurants or nightlife
Participating Restaurants
Bar Safe is a patron accountability program in the Clarendon and Crystal City areas during nightlife hours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights between the hours of 9 pm and 3 am. Patrons that commit alcohol-related crimes could be banned from partnering Clarendon and Crystal City businesses depending on the severity or frequency of the violations. Businesses that are active in the Clarendon and Crystal City areas during nightlife hours have signed a partnership agreement to honor each other’s banning notices. The following businesses are participating:
Clarendon:
- Ambar/BABA – 2901 Wilson Blvd
- TTT/Buena Vida – 2900 Wilson Blvd
- Mexicali Blues – 2933 Wilson Blvd
- Wilson Hardware – 2915 Wilson Blvd
- 7-11 – 3137 Wilson Blvd
- CVS – 3141 Wilson Blvd
- Don Tito – 3165 Wilson Blvd
- Spider Kelly’s – 3181 Wilson Blvd
- Clarendon Pop-Up – 3185 Wilson Blvd
- Liberty Tavern – 3195 Wilson Blvd
- Silver Diner – 3200 Wilson Blvd
- O’Sullivans – 3207 Washington Blvd
- Nam Viet – 1127 N Hudson St
- Lyon Hall – 3100 Washington Blvd
- Bar Bao – 3100 Clarendon Blvd
- Pamplona – 3100 Clarendon Blvd
- Bronx Pizza – 3100 Clarendon Blvd
- Renegade - 3100 Clarendon Blvd
- Pinemoor - 1101 N. Highland St
- Darna - 946 N. Jackson St
- The Lot - 3217 10th St. N
Crystal City
- Bowlero - 320 S. 23rd St
- 7-11 - 426 S. 23rd St
- Los Tios - 513 S. 23rd St
- Andalusia - 525 S. 23rd St
- Crystal City Sports Pub - 529 S. 23rd St
- Flirt Lounge - 542 S. 23rd St
- Enjera - 549 S. 23rd St
- Freddie's - 555 S. 23rd St
- La Bettola Italian - 558 S. 23rd St
- McNamara's - 567 S. 23rd St
- Kabob Palace - 2313 S. Eads St
Violation Types
Red Violation – Banning notice
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Malicious Wounding
- Assault & Battery on Law Enforcement
- Assault & Battery with Injury
- Felony Drugs
- Weapon Violation
Yellow Violation – 3 Violations (within one year) = Banning notice
- Drunk in Public
- Assault & Battery – No injury
- Disorderly Conduct
- Indecent Exposure
- Destruction of Property
- Misdemeanor Drugs
- Underage Possession of Alcohol
- Possession of Fake ID
- Urinating in Public
- Drinking in Public
- Larceny
- Trespass
Bar Safe Banning Appeal Process
Any person served with a Bar Safe Notice Forbidding Trespassing has the right to an appeal hearing. The appellant must file a written request for appeal with the Arlington County Manager’s Office within ten (10) days of receiving the Bar Safe Notice Forbidding Trespassing. The County Manager will designate a time and place for the hearing. Any oral testimony given at the hearing will be reported or recorded. The County Manager will make a finding based upon the hearing record and will issue a written final ruling. If the appellant fails to appear for a requested hearing, the issued Bar Safe Notice Forbidding Trespassing will remain in effect, and no further appeal will be permitted. Should the Bar Safe Notice Forbidding Trespassing be overturned on appeal, an entry will be made in the banning logbook, and a copy of the ruling will be filed with the Arlington County Police Department Business Outreach Unit.
All requests for appeal should be mailed in writing to:
Arlington County Manager’s Office 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 302
Arlington, VA 22201