Posted on 03/23/2006 8:18:08 AM PST by takenoprisoner
More than 2,200 people have been arrested in Texas bars in the six months since the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced a crackdown on public intoxication, primarily targeting bars.
The arrests included people who were drunk in bars, who sold alcohol to a drunk person, or a drunk employee on the premises of a bar or restaurant with a license to sell alcohol, said Carolyn Beck, a spokeswoman for the TABC.
The commission has been responsible for enforcing the state's alcoholic beverage code for the past 70 years. In August, 2005, the agency announced it was beginning a crackdown on public intoxication, using both undercover and open operations.
The agency has used undercover agents before, Beck said. In a recent operation, agents infiltrated 36 bars in a Dallas suburb and arrested 30 people for public intoxication.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
This is wrong, the drunk in public laws, in any state, were passed in order to keep extremely drunken individuals off the streests. The "public" part of the law meant just that, walking down the streets(or stumbling as the case may be), not sitting in a bar.
This is a gross misinterpretation of the drunk in public law and is obviously being done for revenue. If you wish to live a facist state then please head to one of the muslim countries, they don't allow alchohol and we all know how wonderful their citizens have it! No deaths there for any reason.
"All 2200 of these people should plead "not guilty" and demand a jury trial."
I agree 100% which is exactly what I would do. But most people just don't have the time since they remain busy trying to make a livin. And we know that most of these folks had money or they would'nt have been in a bar...they would have been on a park bench somewhere reaking of urine...but those people who actually are a threat to themselves and others can't come up with the money the TABC is looking for to fill their budget (coffers.)So they hit the bars where there's lots of money to be found.
I'm still hoping for a class action as another poster suggested. And I would like to know now how many actually did or will plead not guilty and request a trial by jury.
This is a violation of freedom.
Does it say how many were actually from Texas?
For them being in hotels alot of them might have gone back to their own state and don't wan't to go back to fight it.
"Someone had better mess with Texas real soon. It's like they're vying with California and New York for being the state most restrictive of individual liberty."
I hear ya junior. If this isn't stop dead in it's tracks now it will be coming to a bar near you and me soon. If texas gets away with this, madd will have it nationwide.
Exactly. This type of fascist nonsense makes Osama and his supporters very happy.
Yes, but how come American's are screaming against the Patriot Act and screened telephone calls? And yes, they certainly have picked up steam across the United States of late. And I think it's because they know there are a whole bunch of groups out here spreading the real truth about this horrible war on smokers.
"I consider anyone who advocates this type of police-state activity an enemy of freedom."
Me too!
Don't know about Texas, but in PA you don't get a jury trial for minor offenses like this, you don't even get to argue your case before a judge, just a magistrate who is usually the retired Chief of Police... what do we do when the States become the tyranny?
it hapins (happens)
You're right.
I, in particular have started to hate and resent so many so called "school zone" speed limits which are basically revenue enhancement zones for the local governments and cops.
Of course I'm not going to go speeding through "school zones" trying to run over "the children", I don't want to hit anyone, but there's too many of them and children should obey the lights and crossings like everyone else.
I don't particularily like children or students. They're mostly spoiled brats and PC brainwashed clones now.
The cops are there waiting for fresh meat.
children are not adults. they are not as cognisant of danger as adults. operators of vehiles has a special responsibility to look out for them. school zones are
justified. sorry you don't like kids, but there is no license to drive carelessly around them.
Yeah, I sometimes conceal my fine vintage wines thusly also.
I love Sonic.
"Does it say how many were actually from Texas? "
No breakdown as to that. Surely some had to be from out of state.
I wonder if I could sit down and enjoy a beer or two in a Russian bar nowadays...
We ladies have to stick together!
Imagine if they were to come upon Team We Suck. YIKES!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.