Texas halts arrests of drunks in bars

[jayfish]

http://reuters.excite.com//article/20060414/2006-04-14T170840Z_01_N13257090_RTRIDST_0_ODD-CRIME-BARS-DC.html

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - A controversial Texas program to send undercover agents into bars to arrest drunks has been halted after a firestorm of protest from the public.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has "temporarily suspended" what it called "Operation Last Call" even though it still believes it was worthwhile, commission spokeswoman Carolyn Beck said on Thursday.

"We understand that everything has room for improvement, this included," she said.

Can anyone say "oops"?

[MissB]

1. Yeah, arresting tourists in their hotel bar was a bit stupid.

:eyes:

[Vincardog]

2. That may be why the conventions were starting to cancel.

:evilfrown: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :wow: :wow: :wow: :dilemma: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[benburch]

5. If you cannot be drunk in Texas...

Bush will have to MOVE!

[bahrbearian]

8. Maybe they started doing that to get rid of him.

[Old Vet]

6. Nowhere but texas could they pull this crap!

Common Sense,Damn

[Gman]

22. What about Kansas?

Went to a convention in Wichita once. My biggest question was "Why?"

[AndyTiedye]

30. But Get Drunk While Hunting And SHOOT SOMEONE -- No Arrest…

…if you're Deadeye Dick Cheney!



http://www.toonedin.com/cheney.html

[saigon68]

33. Likie the game-- "SNORT A LINE OF COKE/ BECOME PRESIDENT"

WHAT A CHIMP

[redirish28]

7. EXACTLY!!! If anything that would be the safest place to drink .

[MADem]

3. Ahhh, they thought Monkey was gonna go to TX for Easter!!!

An' put on his...heh, heh....Dizz-Guys...heh, heh...and go out for a few snorts!!!!

Instead, he brought a few cases to Camp D, instead!

[worldgonekrazy]

4. The basis for this was shaky, to say the least

She said most of those arrested in the sting operations had been "dangerously drunk" and might have tried to drive if TABC agents had not busted them.

Arresting people for what they might do? How far can you take that?

[Bush_MUST_Go]

11. Kind of hard to prove someone planned on driving drunk.

Questionable arrests like that are a serious burden on the courts and the taxpayers.

[jayfish]

21. I Have A Friend Who Is In A Situation...

that also involves a questionable alcohol-related arrest. At the start of the night a designated driver was chosen to drive my buddy's van and a group of other people to the bar. The designated driver decided to tie-one-on himself and also decided he could no longer drive home. Another driver was chosen (even though he had been drinking earlier)and my friend was three sheets to the wind so he couldn't have cared any less. On the trip home, the police pulled the van over for an equipment violation. The driver went to jail on a DUI and my buddy went to jail for allowing him to drive home. The argument is that he intended to let a drunk drive home from the outset. Never put it past LEO's and DA's to do stupid shite like this whatever the cost to the courts or taxpayers may be.


Jay

[ugarte]

13. Bush's law of preemptive attack taken to its logical end...

They might drive, they might be dangerous, so we must go on the attack.

Beyond belief.

[longship]

9. Ooops!

This was one of the most mind-numbing, stupid things I've heard in a long, long time.

I mean, they were arresting people in hotel bars when the only thing they would have to drive was an elevator to their rooms. I hope that the Texas ABC has to pay, pay, pay for their recklessness.

[spag68]

10. How do you think

that regular Texans felt about this arresting people in bars?

[Virginia Dare]

12. That reminds me of a Jeff Foxworthy punchline...

but Officer I wasn't drunk in public, I was drunk in the bar....
:silly:

[spag68]

14. Texas

My brother lives near the racetrack in Fort Worth. I've worked there and visited many times and I got to think this caused an uproar there too.

[sutz12]

18. I believe it was Jeff's buddy Ron White....

But yes, it's an appropriate comment. :rofl:

[zbdent]

19. "They THREW me into public"

and the other poster was right, it was Ron White . . . and he was very funny . . .

[lapfog_1]

26. I think you mean Ron White

and his story about being "drunk in a bar, and then they THREW me into PUBLIC!"

[Virginia Dare]

27. I stand corrected...

but I never was an expert on the blue collar tour buddies. It's still funny as hell though.

:toast:

[AnneD]

15. I knew they would have to back off.

We were one of the last states to enact an open container law. It is a good thing they stopped. The Legislature will be in session and they could have embarassed a lot of 'Family Values' folks (GOP and DEM alike).
They said the only tested loud obnoxious folks. Frankly, that describes evey political watering hole I have ever been in. Do you have any idea of how many bills are transposed off of cocktail napkins? The number would shock you!

[adarling]

16. never come between a texan and their liquor

so says a texan ;) and remember people, bush is from Connecticut!!!

[jayfish]

17. I'm Nowhere Near TX And It Pissed Me Off.

Jay

[jarab]

32. MADD was on the "losing" side of the issue, too, fwiw. eom

...O...

[zbdent]

20. Must have gone into

the twins' favorite place . . .

[TheBaldyMan]

23. The programme to arrest fat people in McDonalds continues

along with sick people in hospitals and underagers at kindergartens.

[StaggerLee]

24. Bwahahahaha

:rofl:

Thanks for the laugh.

:thumbsup:

[UTUSN]

25. Victory for the drunks! For the Libertarians! For the drunk Libertarians!

[Virginia Dare]

28. Cheers!

:toast: :headbang: :patriot:

[kurth]

29. Just in time for the special legislative session

when Texas lawmakers come to Austin to get drunk and fuck hookers.

[LiberalEsto]

31. Jenna and Babs plan huge celebration

:party: :toast:

[saigon68]

34. They can get smashed

And shake their big skanky asses.

[rodeodance]

35. i could not believe it when i first saw it a few monts back! Idiots!

[DinahMoeHum]

36. Victory!! This calls for a toast. . .

:toast: