Photo by Graham Cullen Frederick County Liquor Board member, Robert C. Snyder, left, and James E. McClellan, chairman, listen as Nuru Befekadu explains why his Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant was closed when it was supposed to be open for business.

One licensee got hit for drinking on duty. Others got stung for refilling liquor bottles.

Altogether, fines against five businesses totaled $2,300.

Licensees have 72 hours to pay up or face further consequences.

One by one, licensees called before the liquor commissioners Monday pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

But each also pleaded ignorance to the laws spelled out in more than 40 pages of county alcoholic beverage regulations.

"Did they know the rules and regulations, or did they even care?" Commissioner Charles R. Cline asked the licensees of Miyako Steak and Seafood, the first violation case discussed for the day.

Miller's Ice and Beverage was called minutes earlier, but representatives failed to show up. That means the business at 300 N. East St. will be facing a new violation.

Attorney Chris May appeared on behalf of Miyako, 1005 W. Patrick St., and its sister business, New Miyakos at 5500 Buckeystown Pike.

"The licensees aren't contesting the charges. They are wrong," May said. Their mistakes were not intentional, but instead simply ignorance of the law. "They've made a mistake and they've rectified it."

Miyako Steak admitted guilt to three charges: refilling an alcoholic beverage container, tampering with an alcoholic beverage container and failing to keep a record of wine invoices.

The commissioners imposed $400 in fines.

New Miyakos admitted guilt to two charges: refilling two alcoholic beverage containers and tampering with alcoholic beverage containers.

The board fined them $300.

Lawrence Shriner received the largest fine, $800, when he admitted he had been drinking while on duty at One More Tavern and Catering in Emmitsburg , according to testimony Monday.

Further, Shriner admitted to becoming intoxicated while on the job.

"This has been the most embarrassing and humiliating thing in my life," Shriner said. "I feel very sorry for it. I apologize and hope for mercy and leniency."

"My biggest concern is this, is this going to stop?" Cline asked.

"Yes, sir. It has stopped," Shriner replied, adding that he is leaving the alcohol business.

Representatives of P.B. Dye Golf Club got hit with a $400 fine for giving customers their sixth beer for free after buying five cans.

"You should know you can't give away alcohol," Commissioner Robert C. Snyder said. "We don't make the laws. We just enforce them."

The liquor board gave Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant a break on one offense involving hours of operation because of some possible confusion.

But they imposed a $400 fine because one of their licensees failed to show up for a previously scheduled violation hearing.

"When you're on that license, you've got to be here," Snyder said.