Bar Sweep Sparks Controversy (Drunk People Arrested in Bars!!)

NBC5i.com ^ | March 23, 2006

[Daytyn71]

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission sent a message to bar patrons last week.

TABC agents and Irving police swept through 36 Irving bars and arrested about 30 people on charges of public intoxication. Agency representatives say the move came as a proactive measure to curtail drunken driving.

North Texans interviewed by NBC 5, however, worried that the sweep went too far.

At one location, for example, agents and police arrested patrons of a hotel bar. Some of the suspects said they were registered at the hotel and had no intention of driving. Arresting authorities said the patrons were a danger to themselves and others.

"Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk," TABC Capt. David Alexander said. "It's to have a good time but not to get drunk."

Dallas comedian Steve Harvey agreed with the Texas residents who said the arrests infringed on individual rights.

"If a guy's got a designated driver, go ahead and let him get toasted," Harvey told NBC 5.

Texas law states that inebriated individuals could be subjected to arrest anywhere for public intoxication. Harvey and other North Texans called the measure extreme.

"That seems to be an extreme case," one man said. "You are self-contained, in the hotel, you're not going in the streets, it seems a little ridiculous."

TABC officials said the sweep concerned saving lives, not individual rights. Harvey and others interviewed by NBC 5 said they believe drunken driving to be unacceptable, although Harvey wanted to confirm that the United States remains a free country.

"Freedom of drinking should always be allowed, and it is only American to let a guy get drunk where he wants to get drunk," Harvey said.

[fella]

If this clown drinks, he's toast. Some local editor will keep an eye on him and get a good story out of it if he's ever seen drunk somewhere.

The yankee editors of the Dallas and Fort Worth MSM papers actively support this type of official oppession.

[microgood]

I'm a little behind the times. Apparently they stopped it WAAAAAAAY back in 2001 and have slid into nearly absolute prohibition since then.

Actually Wyoming was just trying to pass an open container law and it failed again. There is still some freedom left in at least Wyoming.

[Dead Dog]

No constitutional right trumps the agenda of "Public Safety". It's the best thing since "Interstate Commerce"

[tpaine]

Bigs lectures:

it should amaze me that so many of you think it is some form of government intrusion that you have no right to be drunk in public, but I am not.

Get a grip bigs. The laws we have on public drunks are based on being a public nuisance/ breaching the peace. No display/breach, no nuisance.

These cops were over the line, breaching the peace of the bar customers.

As for our founding fathers, up to the early 1870s, it was common for public pillorying for public drunkenness.

Those were clearly unconstitutional State or local 'laws'; just as is the texas law in question.

During the Civil war U.S. Grant had solders strapped spread eagle on wagon wheel for Public drunkenness.

Military courts are not subject to some constitutional restraints.

At no time has being drunk in public been a right; tolerated, yes, legal, no.

At no time has being unobtrusively drunk in public been a crime; Nuisance drunks are not tolerated, yes, but 'legally', drinking is not a crime.

Please don't confuse public tolerance for legal right.

Please don't confuse the power to enact public 'tolerance' regulations for a constitutional right to prohibit the harmless acts of individuals.

Neither Fed, State, or local governments can enact regulations that deprive people of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

[NKByrum]

......What taste better, the leather boots or the residue on your chin......

thats' tellin old BIGGIE....go get em' Laddie

[Inwoodian]

The March of the Coercive Utopians continues unabated.

[Hatteras]

Waaaaaay back in high school, a group of us would hop in a car and head off for a night at the bars. On more then one occasion, a state trooper would pull us over and after shining the flashlight in each of our eyes, he would ask if any one of us in the car had less than two beers tonight. As if on cue, everyone would turn and point to Jeff who was, of course, sitting scrunched up in the backseat of the car, furthest from the steering wheel. The trooper would then "recommend" that Jeff should switch seats with the driver. After a two or three block escort, the trooper would turn off in another direction and we'd be on our merry way.

My how things have changed. Now you can't even drink in a bar of all places!

[SkyDancer]

Oh, another Ron White fan!!! Me Too!!!!!

[Famishus]

because he had his car keys in his pocket it was claimed "the intent to drive" was there

A couple goes on vacation to a fishing resort in northern Minnesota. The husband likes to fish at the crack of dawn - the wife likes to read.

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.

Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and continues to read her book.

Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")

"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

[cherry]

you're over the top......going along with your theory, do you think cops should be able to come to YOUR house and arrest YOUR company if they are having a few brews?....

afterall, YOUR home is not their home......

[NKByrum]

.....They actually did something similar in Herdon, VA last year or the year before......


You are correct...it was at Ned Devine's Irish Pub....and the program was discontinued within 2 weeks...I am from Reston and USED to go to Ned's. I will stick to my watering hole (Lakeside Inn) where I know it is safe...I have a key to the back exit

[CJ Wolf]

Bigs needs Zot.

[cherry]

that's fine....but let the cops arrest people as they start their cars up.......they have no right to arrest somebody for something that they might do later on.......

this is not a debate in favor of drunk driving at all......

[atlaw]

You have no right what so ever to be plastered/drunk . . . on your anchored boat

Really? How about tied up dockside? Is that illegal too?

[ChildOfThe60s]

It is going to be interesting (albeit sickening) to see the convoluted hoops the courts jump through to rationalize this unconstitutional behavior.

[Old_Mil]

The liberals are wrong in saying that it is Halliburton and oil companies that run this nation. It's actually the insurance companies who do.

[takenoprisoner]

waaay back when I was in HS one could cruise around sipping on a cold beer legally. No, of course not drunk. We didn't have breath analyzers then...at least none that I ever heard.

Sure, teenagers had fatal crashes then too. Some were alcohol related and some involved teetotal sober negligence and/or plain lack of experience.


Whatever happened to individual responsibility? But more important, how the hell did we ever survive then living in such a free state?

[Petronski]

Brother: I've got tiny wipers that clear the headlights in the rain.

Ron: I got a place in my van where I can f*** your sister.




LOL

[EBH]

I love your profile page! LOL.

[bearsgirl90]

"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."- Benjamin Franklin

Did he really say this?