Texas Busting Drunks....In Bars... [Archive]

Shwicaz

03-23-2006, 07:07 AM

Texas busting drunks ... in bars

Thursday, March 23, 2006; Posted: 9:56 a.m. EST (14:56 GMT)

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 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.

I can see the reasoning, but just because someone is drunk doesn't mean we are all going to do dumb stuff like jump off a balcony trying to hit a swimming pool below.

:-?

Shane W

03-23-2006, 07:08 AM

Okay, this is the first indication of going fucking insane.

DrMachine

03-23-2006, 07:09 AM

this is actually nothing new, back when I was working at a bar (~98-99) they were doing this

Public Drunkedness is technically illegal, so they are in the right to do it...seems very big brothery though

james michael

03-23-2006, 07:15 AM

Shwicaz

03-23-2006, 07:16 AM

im conflicted...
this stops no one from driving drunk, because drunkeness isnt indicitive of bar hopping, but it might have stopped the drunk driver from hitting me like he did...
i dont like the idea of arresting some one before they commit a crime, either...

actually, public drunkenness is a crime, so they go in the bar until the person is all 'shwilly', and then they arrest him.

DrMachine

03-23-2006, 07:17 AM

also, this is done to keep bartenders from "serving drunk patrons"

which is also illegal

james michael

03-23-2006, 07:17 AM

actually, public drunkenness is a crime, so they go in the bar until the person is all 'shwilly', and then they arrest him.
but thats not why theyre there...
they said they were there to prevent drunk driving and shit like that, so thats where i was coming from...

james michael

03-23-2006, 07:18 AM

also, this is done to keep bartenders from "serving drunk patrons"

which is also illegal
...

then why dont the bartenders not serve drunk people?

Shwicaz

03-23-2006, 07:19 AM

but thats not why theyre there...
they said they were there to prevent drunk driving and shit like that, so thats where i was coming from...

they also said right before that:

Being in a bar does not exempt one from the state laws against public drunkenness, Beck said.

that's where I was coming from....

I don't agree with it, but it is the law.

james michael

03-23-2006, 07:21 AM

they also said right before that:

Being in a bar does not exempt one from the state laws against public drunkenness, Beck said.

that's where I was coming from....

I don't agree with it, but it is the law.
yeah, but in a place full of people drinking, theyre only getting the obvious drunks anyways...

Shwicaz

03-23-2006, 07:22 AM

yeah, but in a place full of people drinking, theyre only getting the obvious drunks anyways...

true. So, what have we learned here.

If you are drinking in Texas, don't pull down your pants at the barstool, thinking you are sitting on the toilet, and then shit all over the place.

You will end up in jail.

:lol:

james michael

03-23-2006, 07:25 AM

true. So, what have we learned here.

If you are drinking in Texas, don't pull down your pants at the barstool, thinking you are sitting on the toilet, and then shit all over the place.

You will end up in jail.

:lol:
...

i already knew that :Oops:

bstie1198

03-23-2006, 07:26 AM

The article on this in the Washington Post Express this morning said that even though they're using drunk driving as the motivation for it, one of the stings took place at a hotel bar, where everyone arrested was a guest and wasn't going to be driving anywhere. I also think it's bullshit if they're arresting people who were responsible enough to bring a designated driver with them or have arranged another safe way home (public transportation, calling a cab, etc).

DrMachine

03-23-2006, 07:30 AM

Shane W

03-23-2006, 07:32 AM

public intoxication is illegal

But selling the intoxicating agent publicly is legal, which is where I have a problem. It's close to being entrapment.

DrMachine

03-23-2006, 07:35 AM

But selling the intoxicating agent publicly is legal, which is where I have a problem. It's close to being entrapment.

absolutely it is (close to) but the distinction is that you can drink one alcoholic beverage and not be intoxicated, but if you drink a dozen you become dangerous to yourself and others

basically you don't have to get drunk when consuming alcohol (in small amounts)

bstie1198

03-23-2006, 07:36 AM

public intoxication is illegal

I understand that, I just think it's a waste of the police force's time persecuting people who're drinking responsibly in a bar.

Tyeron

03-23-2006, 07:37 AM

man alot of us around here think this is pretty stupid
how about going over to the BOB bullock museum here .. and have those cops check out some of the legislators.. i bet those TABC guys would be looking for new jobs..
i don't wanna get hit by a drunk driver either.. but jeezus..
and how's a bartender whose just takin' cash and slingin' drinks gonna know if a guy is really sloshed a 100percent of the time.. i mean c'mon.. i hate faulting the people who provided the liqour.. but the person who drank it can't be totally responsible?
WHAT THE FUCK!?!?
if its that big of a deal.. then maybe alchol needs to be re regulated.. and made into a higher controlled substance...
but i dunno.. i have never heard of anyone smashing into anyone while they were high.. but drunks kill people everyday ... the whole thing is flawed

james michael

03-23-2006, 07:42 AM

public intoxication is illegal
thats ridiculous...
im not saying its wrong, but you cant be drunk in public, but you can be high as fuck, and youre not breaking a law...

Alex(sadly)Maleev

03-23-2006, 07:44 AM

What they should do is arrest them outside in the parking lot when they sit behind the wheel of their car. Then I am OK with it. I have no tolerance for drunk driving.

greg donovan

03-23-2006, 07:44 AM

i just had my alcohol server training recertifiaction.

it is illegal to serve a intoxicated individual. therefore it is illegal to overserve an individual. if i overserve someone and they get into a car accident i am held accountable in civil court and can be sued.

Tyeron

03-23-2006, 07:46 AM

thats ridiculous...
im not saying its wrong, but you cant be drunk in public, but you can be high as fuck, and youre not breaking a law...

well the point is.. you can't be a jag off in public
usually drunks are being complete assholes when they get hauled off.. cause that drunk in public citation usually follows a disorderly charge as well

the high people just giggle and check out the great food in the carts outside..

i've actually heard from several cops (well they were detectives at the time.. but they had been out as regular cops) but they knew when people were high.. but they would rather deal with a high person than a drunk person.. anyday.. and usually just said.. be careful

i'm tellin' you man.. i wish the US would lead the way.. and LEGALIZE WEEED
YEAH THATS RIGHT JACKIN' THE THREAD :twisted:

james michael

03-23-2006, 07:48 AM

well the point is.. you can't be a jag off in public
usually drunks are being complete assholes when they get hauled off.. cause that drunk in public citation usually follows a disorderly charge as well

the high people just giggle and check out the great food in the carts outside..
actually, its because they can test for alcohol, but there isnt an on the spot test for anything else, just tell-tale signs...

Shane W

03-23-2006, 07:48 AM

What they should do is arrest them outside in the parking lot when they sit behind the wheel of their car. Then I am OK with it. I have no tolerance for drunk driving.

This is too much like common sense. Here I believe you can be in a car and behind the wheel, but as soon as you put the keys in the ignition, you are "legally" driving.

Alex(sadly)Maleev

03-23-2006, 07:55 AM

This is too much like common sense. Here I believe you can be in a car and behind the wheel, but as soon as you put the keys in the ignition, you are "legally" driving.
I can't remember the law. I had a friend who got busted in NY, who after a night of drinking sat behind the wheel to take a nap. Cop woke him up and wrote him a ticket. That's a sleeping DUI.
He can't recall a key in the ignition

ThisSpaceForRent

03-23-2006, 08:03 AM

I can see the reasoning, but just because someone is drunk doesn't mean we are all going to do dumb stuff like jump off a balcony trying to hit a swimming pool below.

:-?

Yeah, but I'm rooting for the TEXAS drunks to do just that.
Texas - where guns and booze DO mix.

R�cketFr�g

03-23-2006, 08:05 AM

public intoxication is illegal
But is being drunk in a bar technically public intoxication? You're in a private business set up to serve alcohol. You're not puking on the sidewalk or stumbling through a public park.

james michael

03-23-2006, 08:06 AM

Yeah, but I'm rooting for the TEXAS drunks to do just that.
Texas - where guns and booze DO mix.
:nonono2:
penis envy...

Gunter

03-23-2006, 08:15 AM

I can't remember the law. I had a friend who got busted in NY, who after a night of drinking sat behind the wheel to take a nap. Cop woke him up and wrote him a ticket. That's a sleeping DUI.
He can't recall a key in the ignition

My sister was once arrested and she was passed out in the back seat. But she had her car keys in her pocket and they called it "willful control of a motor vehicle".

DrMachine

03-23-2006, 08:24 AM

But is being drunk in a bar technically public intoxication? You're in a private business set up to serve alcohol. You're not puking on the sidewalk or stumbling through a public park.

it's not a private business unless they have a "membership", don't know about other places but in Tx that's the way to get around certain laws

such as: in dry counties, or "restricted" counties (former is no alcohol served, latter is no hard liquor) you can get away with serving it if it's a private club (membership required), this is also used to get around the various no-smoking in public businesses laws

the membership usually consists of paying a monthly fee (~15$)

TRILL, THE CARBON BASED LIFEFORM

03-23-2006, 03:27 PM

Yeah, but I'm rooting for the TEXAS drunks to do just that.
Texas - where guns and booze DO mix.
Geesh. Such hostility.

King of Mars

03-23-2006, 03:49 PM

such as: in dry counties, or "restricted" counties (former is no alcohol served, latter is no hard liquor) you can get away with serving it if it's a private club (membership required), this is also used to get around the various no-smoking in public businesses laws

the membership usually consists of paying a monthly fee (~15$)

It's not even that much in certain places. I've heard of bars charging a $1.00 "member fee" and having patrons sign a "membership roster" upon entering. This establishes them as "private clubs" rather than public gathering spots and (presumably) allows them to avoid problems with no-smoking/public intoxication laws.

Taxman

03-23-2006, 03:56 PM

The goal, she said, was to detain drunks before they leave a bar and go do something dangerous like drive a car.http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/minority_report/_group_photos/colin_farrell7.jpg

Kefky

04-12-2006, 06:42 PM

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/minority_report/_group_photos/colin_farrell7.jpg

Hah! Good one.

Taxman

04-12-2006, 06:49 PM

Hah! Good one.Were it that good, would it not have gotten a response in less that three weeks?

Kefky

04-12-2006, 06:52 PM

Were it that good, would it not have gotten a response in less that three weeks?

Hey, don't look at me, I missed the topic! :scared:

Taxman

04-12-2006, 06:53 PM

Hey, don't look at me, I missed the topic! :scared:When I first saw your post, I thought it was faked, 'cause I didn't remember posting that.

Kefky

04-12-2006, 06:59 PM

When I first saw your post, I thought it was faked, 'cause I didn't remember posting that.

I-I don't know what you're talking about. :shifty:

Taxman

04-12-2006, 07:01 PM

I-I don't know what you're talking about. :shifty:I posted that weeks ago, I didn't remember. Also, when I clicked on I thought this was Thudpucker's thread. It was a little confusing.

Kefky

04-12-2006, 07:12 PM

I posted that weeks ago, I didn't remember. Also, when I clicked on I thought this was Thudpucker's thread. It was a little confusing.

Stubborn, aren't you? Well, just so you know, this isn't part of my plan to confuse everyone and take over the board while they're not looking! So don't ask! :mad: