Man alleges designated driver discrimination

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State Senator Mike Fasano has filed a bill that would prevent bars from discriminating against those who don't drink alcohol.

"You can't do that," said Fasano. "Any person designated as a designated driver, you must serve them if they pay for their non-alcoholic beverage."

An incident at Carlie's Lounge on 49th Street in Pinellas Park on June 2, 2006 prompted Fasano to come up with the bill. Thirty-seven-year-old Gary Maujean says he ordered coke and water to drink because he was the designated driver, but was asked to leave because he didn't order alcohol.

"The waitress comes over to me and tells me the owner told her to come over and tell me I needed to either order something to drink or leave the bar," said Maujean.

Maujean says shortly after, he was roughed up by the owner and a bouncer, leaving him with 18 stitches. Maujean is suing, with the help of attorney Tom Carey, who is the former Florida chairman of MADD.

"It's a situation where the profit motive outweighs the risk of hazard for everyone out there on the roads," said Carey.

Fasano said it's a shame such mistreatment of designated drivers takes place.

"In a way it's sad we have to do legislation because 90 percent of establishments welcome designated drivers," said Fasano.

If the legislation passes, establishments that serve alcohol could lose their liquor license for discriminating against designated drivers.

"No one should ever have to go through this," said Majuean. "No one should force anybody to drink if they don't want to."

Fasano hopes to get the bill passed in the next legislative session that begins March 6.

The owner of Carlie's Lounge, Vincenzo Romano, did not return Bay News 9's phone calls seeking comment. In a recent story with Bay News 9's partner paper, the St. Petersburg Times, he denied Maujean's accusations.

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