Troopers urge attention to law enforcement costs of privatizing Pa. liquor sales

Privatizing Pennsylvania’s liquor system could result in a proliferation of retail outlets without a matching hike in money for law enforcement, state law-enforcement officials say.

 

The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association isn’t coming down on either side of the liquor-privatization plan sent to the state Senate, according to association head Joe Kovel.

But he is asking lawmakers to consider beefing up enforcement alongside any proposal that would increase liquor retailers.

“An additional 70 to 75 troopers is what we would need to go out there and enforce these additional — investigate these additional venues and do undercover investigations,” Kovel said Tuesday.

The Corbett administration has promised to dedicate another $5 million to liquor enforcement if a privatization bill makes it to the governor’s desk.

The state police commissioner said that would be enough to cover any additional costs his agency would face.

The House GOP spokesman says the measure sent to the Senate already addresses the issue, and the Legislature would work to ensure additional enforcement requirements are funded.