"An Act relating to the manufacture and transportation of alcoholic beverages; relating to forfeitures of property for violations of alcoholic beverage laws; and relating to violations of alcoholic beverage laws. "

In 2004, Congress passed legislation recognizing that many rural communities and their residents " ... face the highest alcohol abuse and family violence rates in the country," and establishing the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission. The Commission released a Draft Interim Report in late 2005 that contained recommendations, including amendments to several provisions in Alaska statutes.

Senate Bill 210 changes current law to help law enforcement better protect communities that have chosen to limit the sale or possession of alcohol under local option laws. First, Senate Bill 210 strengthens current forfeiture provisions in statute by allowing seizure of alcohol transported by common carrier in violation of current law. Second, it authorizes the seizure of property determined to have been purchased or obtained through the proceeds of illegal importation or sale of alcohol and outlines procedures for a person claiming an interest in property that has been seized.

SB 210 also defines "manufacture" of alcohol and provides consistency between statutes by amending the allowable quantities. While current statute prohibits the manufacture of alcohol in a community that has adopted a local option, it does not include a definition. The legislation also clarifies statutes relating to the presumption of possession for sale. These provisions provide clarity and assist law enforcement and communities in their continued interdiction efforts in damp or dry areas of the state.

Currently more than 100 communities in Alaska have chosen a local option to combat the problems associated with alcohol abuse and violence. SB 210 clarifies, strengthens and brings uniformity to the state's alcohol and beverage control statutes to assist law enforcement and communities fight the illegal importation of alcohol.

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