The short-term debate has been resolved. The Town of Orchard Park has given up on the idea of requiring owners of private parking lots outside New Era Field to apply for permits that would allow police on their properties for Buffalo Bills home games.

But the larger concern remains – how to curb drunkenness, fights, thefts and social-media-driven rowdyism in those lots.

The main culprit is obvious.

“I would say more than 90 percent of the individuals we deal with, that we make arrests on, are impaired by alcohol or drugs or both,” Orchard Park Police Chief Mark F. Pacholec said.

The fewer than 80 lots within one mile of New Era Field park anywhere from under a dozen vehicles each to more than 600, authorities estimate.

“You’re probably looking in the 10,000-to-12,000 vehicle range, depending on the game,” Pacholec estimated. “That’s a lot of cars.”

With an average of more than three people per vehicle, the chief believes more than half the stadium’s fans are parking in those satellite lots.

The vast majority of those lots pose few problems for police, as Pacholec cited difficulties at maybe four or five locations, which he would not identify.