TN Alcoholic Beverage Commission not staffed to go after $1M in fines, background checks

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TN Alcoholic Beverage Commission doesn't have staff to go after $1M in fines
Alcoholic beverage unit blames low staff
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091020/NEWS0201/910200329/TN+Alcoholic+Beverage+Commission+doesn+t+have+staff+to+go+after++1M+in+fines
By Chris Echegaray • THE TENNESSEAN • October 20, 2009

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission has yet to collect $1 million in outstanding citations from violators across the state because it does not have enough staff to go after the money



A state audit released Monday cited the commission's failure to collect fines from citations, noted a lack of background checks for liquor-by-the-drink permits and stressed the need for better record keeping.

The audit shows the commission did not collect all the money the state was owed for calendar years 2007 and 2008.

"Because of staff shortages we have not been able to collect,'' said Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission Executive Director Danielle Elks.

When it's time for a license to be renewed, the commission sends a notice to the violator letting the business know whether there are fines to be paid. But the business is not required to pay those fines before getting its license renewed.

The audit recommends state lawmakers change that and require the payment of the fines before licenses are renewed, and the commission's management said it supports that approach

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