PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has approved a "more enforceable" open container law with amendments to protect civil liberties. 

Last week, councilors voted to replace City Code Section 14-7.1, "Same-Drinking alcoholic beverages upon public ways, etc." with Section 14-7.1, "Same-Possession of open container or consumption of alcohol on public property."

It passed with amendments to define an "open container" and some tweaked language proposed by Ward 2 Councilor Brittany Noto. 

"All I can think of is the stated purpose of this ordinance is to increase enforcement authority. Anytime I hear that my ears go up, and I want to protect the liberty interests of the public," she said. 

Noto supported the amended ordinance "with a lot of trepidation," understanding that the goal is to address behaviors that affect the city"s quality of life. 

"Just keep in mind, as a body, anytime we give more authority to law enforcement, that's being subtracted from the personal liberty of our residents," she said. "So even though I'm going to support it, I'm not doing it lightly, and I'm taking this very seriously, because it's a personal property issue, in my opinion." 

The ordinance makes it illegal for a person to have an open container of alcohol on a "way, sidewalk, common, park, conservation area, recreation area or beach or upon any city-owned property." It gives the Pittsfield Police Department more enforcement authority because the former ordinance required them to observe public drinking before taking enforcement action. 

"Public substance misuse is a problem, a health problem," community advocate Ephraim Schwartz said during open microphone.