Utah's liquor cops under fire

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah's liquor-enforcement agents are under fire for questionable tactics that critics say cross the line into entrapment.

Here are a few examples:
-- Undercover liquor-control agents waved a $5 bill at the Clearfield club, daring a boisterous woman to expose herself.
-- At an American Fork restaurant, agents badgered a waiter into quickly bringing them a round of beers -- then ticketed the eatery for serving alcohol without a required meal on the table.
-- And after three agents ordered shots at a Salt Lake City pub, two agents got up and left, leaving the server liable for delivering too many drinks.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that beer taverns, private clubs and restaurants are being hit with more citations and stiffer penalties than at any time since the 2002 Olympics.

And critics blame a pattern of aggressive tactics that prompted one lawmaker this year to try to strip the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control of its enforcement powers for so-called "tacky" citations.

Lt. Ed Michaud, the latest of four commanders to supervise the liquor-enforcement team in nearly three years, blames high turnover and inexperience.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Scott Duncan promises to fix things.