The Iowa City Law Blog

On 3/19/10 Governor Culver signed HF 2233 into law, providing some relief for defendants convicted of PAULA offenses.

In a nutshell, the new PAULA law adds a provision that allows defendants to expunge the charge from their records after a period of two years, provided that no additional convictions take place in that period. (There is an exception for traffic-related convictions, to a certain extent.)

The new law modifies the Public Intoxication law as well, removing the undefined use of the word “exonerate” and replaces it with the more common term “expunge.”

Now students in Iowa City actually have a chance to receive a clean criminal history after receiving a PAULA ticket. It just takes 2 years of good behavior to do so.

The Iowa City council has passed vote #2 of 3 in regard to passing a 21-and-older ordinance for the Iowa City bars.

News from the latest meeting is that this current proposal could go into effect as early as June of this year.  Another proposal is that the ordinance may be delayed until the public votes upon it in November.

Now that this issue has come back to the forefront of Iowa City politics, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with various parents who have children attending the University.

Overwhelmingly they feel that the 21-only ordinance should be in place.  They feel it is an unfair trap for 19 and 20-year-old residents.  Many are surprised that 19 and 20 year-olds can get into the bar to begin with.

At this point, I agree with them.  Although I do not think it is a “trap” set up by Iowa City to get PAULA tickets, it is a dangerous situation that many students find themselves in.

With my prior posts on the ridiculous stacking of simple misdemeanors that can occur, I think the passing of 21-only would be fair, and would result in fewer student violations.

Currently the City Council is 6-1 in favor of the new ordinance.  And for the benefit of local students’ criminal records, I think this measure should pass.

For the local bar owners I sympathize.  They built their businesses and signed their leases with the idea that they would be able to charge cover for underage patrons.  This income would be taken away from them.

One prediction is clear.  Outside-of-the-city-limits bars like Wildwood Saloon would see an increase in business.

CHeBA Hut is a marijuana-themed sandwich shop with locations in great college towns such as Boulder, Ft. Collins, Eugene and Tempe.

This fall they plan to open a restaurant here in Iowa City.

It’s great to see Iowa City on the same list as these other fun towns.

I first found out about CHeBA Hut in a message from one of my associates in Denver. He is often on the lookout for new small chain restaurants. And although CHeBA Hut was born in Arizona, the Denver-Boulder area of Colorado is generally on the forefront of great new restaurant ideas.

This friend mentioned that Iowa City’s liberal college community would create the right environment for a successful CHeBA Hut.  Apparently the organizers of the Iowa City CHeBA Hut agree with his opinion.

I do not wish to imply that this friend or myself have anything to do with CHeBA Hut’s arrival. It was just a passing thought we had a few months ago.

I’ve not had the opportunity to try their sandwiches, they look delicious.

Their menu is peppered with marijuana references.  But their food obviously contains nothing illegal.

I respect CHeBA Hut and their stance on free speech, as outlined on their website. Public displays such as a sandwich shop like this one are factors in dispelling the myth that marijuana is more harmful than various legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or even “Super Sized” Coca-Colas.

Hopefully the rest of Iowa City will welcome their arrival this fall.