It also may have an unintended downside, due to Utah's, let's say, uniqueness.

With Utah's strict liquor-control laws, it is illegal to bring booze into the state from abroad, even for personal use. All alcohol must be purchased from state liquor stores.

The direct Paris flights mean those jetting in from the City of Lights will go through customs at Salt Lake City International Airport. So visitors or Utah residents returning from a European jaunt better not plan on bringing with them some of that famous French wine, or customs will have to confiscate it since agents go by the laws of the states where they work.

Utah's liquor laws do make a small exception for people going through customs. They may bring in two liters of alcohol. Any more than that, though, and it's sayonara $200 bottle of

vintage vino.

In fact, that occurred a few years ago when an international flight had to be diverted to Salt Lake City for an emergency landing and passengers went through customs here. Many were upset when their liquor was confiscated from their luggage.

"No matter where the passenger's destination or point of origin, we have to enforce the local liquor laws," said John Glaiptli, of U.S. Customs in Salt Lake City. "Whether we agree with them or not."

Another downside: An unintended consequence of private club requirements for the serving of alcoholic beverages in Utah is the easy access to members' personal information.

Past and present club owners tell me that when people fill out membership applications - which they must do in order to drink in the establishments - they supply their name, address, telephone number and sometimes their driver license number or plate number. The applications must be on hand in case an undercover officer conducts a sting and needs to see an application to make sure the drinkers in the place are actual members.

That means bartenders, doormen, servers and many others can grab an application and get the address and telephone number of, say, an attractive young woman, and that could open the door for unwelcome advances.

Or, if someone looks wealthy, the address can be had for a possible heist.

Some owners have heard these complaints in the past, which is just another example of Utah's ingenious lawmakers creating a problem while trying to solve one.

Benefits and consequences: For a congressman whose job it is to make laws, Utah Rep. Chris Cannon ought to pay more attention to the ones already in existence.

His large campaign sign seen last week attached to the overpass on Interstate 215 at about 40th South is a no-no, according to Utah Department of Transportation spokesperson Adan Carrillo.

Carrillo said signs on overpasses like that create a dangerous distraction for motorists.

Besides, that area on the east side of Salt Lake County is not even in Cannon's district.

prolly@sltrib.com