By JUDY RATTNER
Rapture at 222 Sunrise Highway, the subject of a number of recent violations, was issued nine tickets this weekend, two for selling alcohol to a minor, six for selling contaminated beverages and one building code violation. Jeffrey Rumman, 27, the owner of Rapture, is currently in litigation with the Village of Rockville Centre over the Building Department's denial of a change of use permit for the establishment. He is suing the village, alleging that the village code used to deny his permit change request is unconstitutional, and that the ruling to deny his request for a change of use is also unconstitutional.
The Vibe Ultra Lounge in the basement of 60 N. Park Ave. received 11 violations, two of which were for selling alcohol to a minor, two for contaminated beverages and seven for violations to the building code.
Dunn's River at 93 N. Park Ave. received nine tickets, two for selling alcohol to a minor, five for contaminated beverages and two for building code violations.
Village spokesman Jeff Kluewer said the contaminated beverage violation typically has to do with the discovery of insects in bottles at bars and restaurants. He said it usually occurs when bottles are stored with unsecured open pourers.
Lieutenant Richard Fantry of Rockville Centre's Police Department said the raids were timed to send downtown nightspots a strong message to keep their establishments in line before this Wednesday, which is usually the busiest night of the year for them. He said that there have been recent problems with crowds coming and going, both before and after leaving bars in Rockville Centre, and that with large crowds and not enough staff, underage drinkers might be able to sneak in and get served.
