Reporters' notebook

Current law has a bitter taste

Beware the law of unintended consequences — or rather, when creating laws, beware of consequences unintended.

Rep. Stacey Fitts, R-Pittsfield, has put forth a bill proposal to correct a law passed earlier this year that effectively bans wine shops and specialty stores from offering wine and other alcoholic beverage tastings.

The law, as passed through committee, would have allowed retailers to conduct tastings of beer and hard liquor in addition to wine. But a floor amendment was added that prohibited taste-testing in front of children, causing business owners strife.

"Some specialty stores have gone so far as to block out their windows with paper, as if they were porno stores, so kids couldn't see inside," Fitts said in a release. "My bill would instead mandate that a sign be placed at the entrance to an establishment when an event is being held, so all patrons are aware of the taste-testing."

Fitts' bill proposal was unanimously approved by House and Senate leadership for consideration in the 124th Legislature's second session, scheduled to begin in early January.

 — Rebekah Metzler

Cruisers vs. wildlife

State Police say five of its patrol vehicles have been damaged in recent weeks after colliding with deer, and a Washington County deputy was injured last week in a collision with a moose. Sgt. Deputy Thomas Chambers sustained multiple bumps and bruises and was treated at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor after his encounter with the animal.

Although moose are always a threat on the roadway, the Maine Department of Transportation says November is the peak month for deer-vehicle crashes, with nearly 20 percent of all annual deer crashes taking place in November. The most frequent time for a collision with a deer is between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to police.

The recent State Police crashes with deer took place on Route 182 in Hancock, Route 1 in Harrington, Interstate 95 in Veazie, Quiggle Road in Union and the Village Road in Jackson. None of the troopers were injured, but one of the cruisers was demolished and most of the others sustained several thousand dollars in damage. 

 — Bonnie Washuk

Got ammo?

Prior to the start last weekend of Maine's firearms deer hunting season, J and K Sporting Goods owner Kevin Billings of West Paris said he had several people call him from Wal-Mart looking for ammunition.

"I said, 'Yep, come on down,'" Billings said. "Which is kind of an insult that they went to Wal-Mart first."

Billings, on the other hand, has been unable to find any ammunition for his own hunting rifle, a .308-caliber.

Last fall, he said, there was a shortage of handgun ammunition. This fall, he's got plenty of handgun ammunition, but there's a shortage of .308-caliber bullets.

"It's sad when a gun store owner can't get any ammo for his gun," Billings said.

 — Terry Karkos