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Posted on 03/22/2006 4:32:35 PM PST by stacytec
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - Texas has begun sending undercover agents into bars to arrest drinkers for being drunk, a spokeswoman for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said on Wednesday.
The first sting operation was conducted recently in a Dallas suburb where agents infiltrated 36 bars and arrested 30 people for public intoxication, said the commission's Carolyn Beck.
Being in a bar does not exempt one from the state laws against public drunkenness, Beck said.
The goal, she said, was to detain drunks before they leave a bar and go do something dangerous like drive a car.
"We feel that the only way we're going to get at the drunk driving problem and the problem of people hurting each other while drunk is by crackdowns like this," she said.
"There are a lot of dangerous and stupid things people do when they're intoxicated, other than get behind the wheel of a car," Beck said. "People walk out into traffic and get run over, people jump off of balconies trying to reach a swimming pool and miss."
She said the sting operations would continue throughout the state.
Drunks?!? In a bar?!? I'm shocked...shocked I tell ya...
Yes, apparently it is technically illegal to be drunk anywhere in Texas, except for your own home.
"We feel that the only way we're going to get at the drunk driving problem and the problem of people hurting each other while drunk is by crackdowns like this," she said.
From the mouth of a fascist nannystater
Sometimes I'm not sure I've got the Red States and Blue States right in my head.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
When I lived in North Carolina, I got a ticket from the DMV clerk for an expired tag when I was at the DMV to renew my car tag. She told me I had to pay the fine because it was expired. There were no exceptions.
Home of the national headquarters of.....................
What a coinky-dink.
Step1: Cut the funding of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission by 50%
Step2: Check behaviour. If no improvement, repeat Step1.
Governor Perry better get out in front of this and nip it pronto! His favorable margin is already razor thin, and that's not even against a named opponent. So, this kind of Politically Correct trickery is exactly the sort of thing that will cost him (and the Republicans)the governor's seat next time around. Frankly, this is more the sort of thing one would expect from Laura Miller (Dallas Mayor) than from the governor's office. Dumb, dumb, dumb...
A woman with this logic should just turn in her D/L and surrender at the local asylem.
I an alternate universe...
Who knows, that driver might speed later. If they have gas in the car it could lead to a serious motor infraction. That's why we took the car!
This busdriver had girls on the bus. It's clear that he had the opportunity to molest those girls. We've put him behind bars where he belongs.
That woman walking down the street had shoes on. She was in a position to J-Walk which is very dangerous. We had to put her behind bars for her own safety. A driver could get hurt too.
That homeowner was in a perfect position to stiff the bank for payments. We decided to confiscate the house to prevent that. Preventing crime is our job.
The idiotic justifications are limitless, when it comes to breaking the law, even if you're a police officer.
Well officers, we thought you might abuse your power, so we cold cocked you with this ball-bat. I'm sure you understand.
Okay so in California you can't smoke inside or outside
here in Texas you can't get drunk in a bar LOL:)
Is this a great Country or what? LOL
Exactly like the Tom Cruise movie where they arrested people for THINKING about murdering someone. Can't remember the name tho.
Isn't a bar PRIVATE PROPERTY?
All bartenders beware, they will probably start their own phone chain advisory.
The Minority Report
It does sound like that doesn't it.
Ok so you can't smoke or drink because that's ILLEGAL BUT if you come here illegally and bring in illegal drugs you are welcomed with open arms.....sure makes sense to me doesn't it make sense to you?
Isn't a Bar private property and not public. I would ask to see a warrant and call the police to have the cops tossed out.
If they can do this in a bar what is to stop them from doing it in your home?
Yup!
Pretty soon, we'll have individually-tailored, govt. mandated menus and supervised calisthenics.
We're looking more like the old Soviet Union every day.
There are some people who are of the mind that tickets and fines imposed by the government are required for revenue generation purposes.
That's what I was thinking. They can't nail them for public intoxication. A bar has to be private property. It's the reason that you can go outside on a patio or what have you and drink but can't hop the fence with your booze of choice.
How are they pulling this off? And in all place, in Texas?
One thing's for sure, this ain't ever happenin' in College Station.
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