DENVER (AP) — Colorado cities and towns would have the power to extend bar hours past 2 a.m. under a proposal advanced Wednesday by lawmakers who said it could reduce the large, unruly crowds from the traditional closing time.

“When you have hundreds of people leaving the downtown Denver area at one time, it’s more difficult for law enforcement to actually monitor the large crowds, but then also monitor those people who are getting in their cars and driving away,” said Denver Rep. Crisanta Duran, a Democrat sponsoring the bill.