Posted on 07/26/2005 1:37:14 PM PDT by The Other Harry
There seem to be three main infractions or violations involved with drinking. As a veteran drinker, all are relevant to me
There is DUI (driving under the influence), drunk in public, and drinking in public. Let’s take them one at a time, based on my conversations while in jail for a DUI. Most of those conversations were with people who know more about this than I do.
A DUI is the most serious, as it should be.
Still, there is ambiguity. Driving what, where? A bicycle? A horse cart? One of my cellmates once got busted for driving his car in a Wall-Mart parking lot.
You would think “drunk in public” and “drinking in public” would be obvious, but they are not.
We (my cellmates and I) got into a protracted discussion about the meaning of “in public”. The general consensus was that it means whatever the police want it to mean at the time. In other words, you could theoretically be arrested for “drunk in public” or “drinking in public” if you are in your own home at 11:00 at night. That’s not likely, but they could do it.
This all reminds me of the recent eminent domain decision by the Supreme Court. Whose house is this? Whose property is this?
I used to do my gardening, then go out, sit on the front step, have a drink, and study the fruits of my efforts. There was no harm there.
I will no longer do that.
My own opinion is that some law is good, but we are going too far.
I prefer DWI - Driving With (an) Indian.
I like the way you always put your vanities in "Chat." So many people aren't that courteous.
I sometimes carry a glass of wine across the street to visit with the neighbors. Guess I'd be in trouble if the Deputy Sheriff happened by right then.
I once combined a DUI with the mighty UBAL (unlawfull blood alcohol level) making a felony.
As far as people drinking in their own homes or in their yards the law should back off.
Williams and Ree fan?
I couldn't find my way across the street to my neighbors without one in my hand. It's like my own little personal GPS.
When I was in the Navy, one of my buddies got three hits at once on base: A DUI, speeding and running a stop sign... on a bicycle.
Yes, he was blitzed and yes, he was going over the 10 MPH limit and yes, he ran the sign.
But... Come On!
LOL! The previous folks across the street were anti-social, but the new people sit in their garage and drink beer in the evening :-).
Who wants the obligatory shot at fat Ted?
Good. There are probably more little kids running around there than on the roads.
Personally, I regard DWI as equivalent to felony reckless endangerment.
Thanks.
There's no ambiguity, really: the idea is to punish those whose inebriated state causes them and their conveyance to pose a danger to others. You can easily think of scenarios for each of the named vehicles where "drunk driving" will pose such a danger.
"Drinking in public" is one of those where the threshold is most likely defined as "it's causing a problem." In some cases (such as where it's clearly marked as prohibited), there's no ambiguity. Drinking and obnoxious in a crowd seems generally to consist of a first warning, with a ticket to follow if the problem persists.
Drunk in public is pretty straightforward if the fellow's passed out or vomiting, or running into people.
Veteran drinker? Have you quit?
I wasn't drunk in Publi-----CK!
They caught the tater
Harry some days its just worth it to follow your antics.
Thanks
Did you get that first aid kit squared away?
They call me Tater Salad....
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