30 people arrested for drinking in a bar

[footdale]

People can only take so much before :explosion
From here:

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.
ADVERTISEMENT

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.

 

[Grzz701]

Can you say Texas version of prohibition.:gonnablow

 

[ZomBrady]

People can only take so much before :explosion
From here:

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.
ADVERTISEMENT

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.

H**Y S**T!! That is just fricking silly. It almost sounds like something that would happen in my Communist Police State of California. . . .

All hail the mighty Women's Temperance Movement!

 

[imma honky]

Shoot, cops can't even sit and watch people leave bars here. That's BS entrapment.

 

[RichP]

Shoot, cops can't even sit and watch people leave bars here. That's BS entrapment.

Just watch, they will figure out someway to cover THAT loophole thru the patriot act....

 

[Ed A. Stevens]

Great, right before I plan a trip to Texas (to visit a friend who owns a beer company) they make it illegal to be drunk in a private establishment.

Is a bar still considered private property (yes, I read the opinion expressed in the story)?

Where does the rights of public privacy on private property with a concenting owner end (is this an extension :confused1 of the Patriot Act)?

BTW, what is there to do around San Antonio?

.

 

[footdale]

I doubt that these charges will hold up in court (at least I hope to Jebus they will not), but even if that is the case these guys are out a lot of time, inconvenience, and lots of money since they most likely retain a lawyer. I can't stand how sue happy our society is but if I was arrested for this, I might be tempted to take that course of action.

 

[imma honky]

Just watch, they will figure out someway to cover THAT loophole thru the patriot act....

Well, i know a few people that had this happen in Athens (home of UGA....BIG party town). Anyways, what the cops didn't expect, were the people(average joe bystanders) who showed up to tesify that the cops were entrapping the patrons at local bars. Needless to say, most charges were dropped.

 

[klonestar]

A while back the local New Hampshire Liquor Inspector went into a local pub and began checking everyone for ID. (NH law states 'everyone' must have a ID to enter a bar) One well known local who was 47 years old didnt have his ID on him. The bar was fined $5000.00 !

A month or so later.. same bar..same inspector....hung out in the parking lot at the end of the night and made everyone pass a field sobriety test before being allowed to "touch" their vehicles! Taxis were pulling in and out like mad! The inspectors reasoning...he could have parked on the street just off premise and pulled every car over and for anyone flunking the breathalyzer, go directly to jail. For those flunking the field sobriety test, they were given the opiton of finding another ride in lieu of jail. The inspector said he felt like being a nice guy that night! (and he was within his legal rights here)

I live in a 100% tourist subsidized town (ski resort tourist trap) w/no industry at all. Now the word is out that if your looking to go away and party, dont come here!

 

[JnJ]

First I call BS. I think this story is a joke. It is private property and the police can not come in and arrest someone for "Public" intoxication unless the bar owner/manager request it. heck, they can't even give you a ticket for doing donuts in a parking lot, it's private property.
Lot's to do here in SA. The riverwalk is always a blast.

Great, right before I plan a trip to Texas (to visit a friend who owns a beer company) they make it illegal to be drunk in a private establishment.

Is a bar still considered private property (yes, I read the opinion expressed in the story)?

Where does the rights of public privacy on private property with a concenting owner end (is this an extension :confused1 of the Patriot Act)?

BTW, what is there to do around San Antonio?

.

 

[RichP]

Well, i know a few people that had this happen in Athens (home of UGA....BIG party town). Anyways, what the cops didn't expect, were the people(average joe bystanders) who showed up to tesify that the cops were entrapping the patrons at local bars. Needless to say, most charges were dropped.

If 'average joe bystander' ever read the unclassified portions of the patriot act let alone god knows whats in the classified sections, that would have resulted in a few electect officials who voted for it to be lynched...

 

[dphillips]

imma honkey,

Watch out. They're not supposed to sit at the bars and look for ya, but they will and do, especially down town on Broad St.

Ah, Augusta GA, the arm pit of the south.

 

[lost1]

I was in Athens a couple of years ago for some training at the Naval school there, and they were pulling that crap. They've probably been doing it for longer than that...and its not likely it'll end anytime soon unless a few students get sue-happy.

 

[ChicksDigWagons]

Preemptive law enforcement...

Minority Report anyone?

"The goal, she said, was to detain drunks before they leave a bar and go do something dangerous like drive a car."

 

[Zebaru]

I am not sure where the standard lies, but if they can pass laws that prohibit smoking in bars, etc..., then it would seem reasonable that they have the jurisdiction to enforce things like this as well.

Travis

 

[97XJ_Sport]

I don't know if the San Antonio thing is true or not but I know they did the same thing in Irving. I don't drink and I never will but I think what the citys are doing is rediculous.

 

[klonestar]

Here in NH a bar is a public place if public is welcomed in. We have very few laws on the books as far as entrapment goes. Mileage may vary.

Ken

 

[imma honky]

imma honkey,

Watch out. They're not supposed to sit at the bars and look for ya, but they will and do, especially down town on Broad St.

Ah, Augusta GA, the arm pit of the south.

Holy crap! I didn't know anyone else on here was from AUG.....
Where abouts are you? I'm in Martinez.....

 

[dphillips]

I'm over by St. Josephs. Off Wrightsboro.

 

[Ben H]

Here in Fresno, the police chief is doing the same thing with a twist. Sending on duty plain clothed officers into local bars as a relay of possible entoxicated motorist to checkpoints around the block, of said bar. This should either bring up or drop the DUI count around here.

The new practice is going up through the legal system, to find out whether or not it is entrapment or not. I am undecided on whether or not it is entrapment or not.