Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 "Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk" "Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk" "Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest InuYasha Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Everyone in Texas knows that state and local cops are retards. All the cops here are the ones that Dallas and Austin and Houston didn't want, so they stay here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Ol' Smitty 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 You can't get drunk in a BAR in Texas now? Wow, the one minor thing of coolness Texas had left is now gone. We have lost Texas and California. Someone check on New York, see if it still has some coolness left! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Sandusky 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Quoth Czech: "Texas needs to go away." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenbomb 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Eddie Izzard was right! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 For those that doubt the sources, I know I did at first because the story is so ridiculous. http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticl...KOE-UK-BARS.XML http://www.nbc5i.com/news/8169246/detail.html 2Cold, what's wrong with Cali? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenbomb 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 no smoking in bars in Cali Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 no smoking in bars in Cali That was an awesome Eddie Izzard bit. And keep in mind, I've got nothing against the peeps of California. Hell, my girl was born there. But the state itself is just royally stupid on too many political levels. The people? No problems with them, very nice the ones I have met. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Richard 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 I guess Austin will have to beat his girlfriend stone cold sober. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ravenbomb 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 no smoking in bars in Cali That was an awesome Eddie Izzard bit. And keep in mind, I've got nothing against the peeps of California. Hell, my girl was born there. But the state itself is just royally stupid on too many political levels. The people? No problems with them, very nice the ones I have met. so how long until talking in bars is outlawed, too? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 no smoking in bars in Cali That was an awesome Eddie Izzard bit. And keep in mind, I've got nothing against the peeps of California. Hell, my girl was born there. But the state itself is just royally stupid on too many political levels. The people? No problems with them, very nice the ones I have met. so how long until talking in bars is outlawed, too? Give it a year, they'll claim talking can lead to flirting which can lead to sexual harassment or fighting. So to nip it in the bud, they'll just say, "NO TALKING! IT'S TOO RISKY!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corey_Lazarus 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 And soon after that you'll wander around the local public library with a doobie lit going "I don't know WHERE the fuck that book is, mate." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Smoking is actually banned in bars in ontario too, though I don't care since I don't smoke, and people have gotten used to walking outside. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
claydude14 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Yea there's no smoking in bars in NY either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 You'd think there would be some kind of limitation against cops going into bars and just issuing citations without any reason for coming in the first place. It's one thing if they've received a noise complaint or something, but it sounds like they were just trying to fill a quota or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Filling a noise complaint has nothing to do with arresting people because they're drunk. Kick them out, but if the main purpose of the arrest is drunkenness, that's not the same thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CheesalaIsGood 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 But isn't there no open container law in texas? As in you can drink in your car while driving as long as your aren't fitshaced? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 TABC officials said the sweep concerned saving lives, not individual rights. Yeah, fuck individual rights. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Yeah, but what's next? Going into people's homes and making sure they're not drunk? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfaJack 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 But isn't there no open container law in texas? As in you can drink in your car while driving as long as your aren't fitshaced? There is one. It's a Class C misdemeanor to have an open container in a "passenger area" of a vehicle on any public street, regardless if it's in motion, stopped, or parked. All persons in the vehicle can be ticketed but cannot be arrested if they make a written promise to appear in court by signing the ticket and notice to appear presented by the officer at the scene. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Sandusky 0 Report post Posted March 23, 2006 Do they still have drive-thru liquor stores there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfaJack 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 There was still one in New Braunfels last summer so I'd say yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Sandusky 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 Yeah, I wouldn't be too upset if Mexico wanted Texas back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 Yeah, I wouldn't be too upset if Mexico wanted Texas back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2006 Bunch of crazy alcoholics on this board. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
