Mebby Texas ain't that great. . .

[truespode]

Some bars and clubs don't let you walk in wearing a hat. Some make you tuck your shirt in. Some won't let you in because of certain colors of clothing. Does the ACLU scream about that? Probably, but who gives a rats a$$? It's all part of keeping the peace.

That is a dress code.

Taking keys is taking someone's private property. You cannot take their keys but you could refuse entry if they have keys... maybe.

Do a little research on the ACLU. They have gotten some screwy things done. I believe they helped get the law passed in San Francisco that allows a homeless person to be drunk in public. Basically, it is ok to get drunk in your home so according to their logic a homeless person is drunk in public and the public is their home so their is no crime.

That is a dumb law too.

Ivan

 

[Okiewan]

Or better yer... get them to ride an XR50 through a fire, nekkid... wait a minute...

LOL!!! A DW Classic event right there. And there we were, trying to promote/provide a family event. At least it was at like 2am.

 

[Ryone]

That is a dress code.

Taking keys is taking someone's private property. You cannot take their keys but you could refuse entry if they have keys... maybe.

There you go.

"If you have keys, we're sorry but we can't let you in. If you would like to leave your keys at the door and get them back when you leave that's fine, but you'll have to take a breath test first."

It's sad when you have to work around the stupidity of others.

 

[Okiewan]

"If you have keys, we're sorry but we can't let you in. If you would like to leave your keys at the door and get them back when you leave that's fine, but you'll have to take a breath test first."

And the "straight guy entering agrees ... same guy 5 hours later? LOL!

I used to do sound for a bar band and got to watch the transition from "normal" to complete babbling, dancing , slurring idiot. That same scene is replay'd every weekdend in every bar all accross the world.

 

[Okiewan]

Oh, and the ACLU? Do a little research.

BTW.. great thread topic PK!!!

 

[MrLuckey]

And so what if a cop finds that, in his opinion, you look like you are drunk enough to be a threat to yourself and others? Whether you were or weren't, is something that the judge will tend to.

Your testimony, the cops, witness', etc...will determine on court day, just what bol wieval ate the cabbage. And if you were at fault, you will more than likely pay.

Well actually you will pay either way - I know lots of people wrongly arrested and it cost them many thousands of dollars in lawyer fees, days off work for countless court rescheduling etc. Happened to me, total bill was around $5,000. The town of about 85,000 people I lived in made it a practice to hire ex state college football dicks who couldn't make it to the NFL as cops. I never met anyone including my lawyer that could find one shred of evidence that anything was ever done or said to the heavy handed policemen protecting me. I had a very good case for a lawsuit - if I had filed it I would have likely needed to move or be punished for it.

One of my buddies got his truck searched in a parking lot by an overzealous cop in the same town. They found some pain meds that weren't in the prescription bottle (his pregnant wife who was having some serious problems with the pregnancy). He was taken to jail for having controlled substances, they tossed on a charge of suspicion of distribution of some sort because he had too many. It cost him over $10,000 to get cleared. Nothing ever happened to the officer. He happened to be another friends husband.

Why was his truck searched? It was the same color as somebody who got in a fight about 6 blocks away. Judge chastized the prosecutor and that was the end of it, minus the 10k out of my buds pocket.

 

[MrLuckey]

Mean well or not they are going about it entirely the wrong way. If I recall TX was one of the LAST states to even make it illegal to have an open container while driving.

How are those DRIVE Thru Liquor Stores that serve the 40's in paper bags working out in TX? Still making loads of $. If they want to get serious they'll pass laws against people making $ off the problem. Bars - Distributors - Manufacturers etc. Tobacco should be the same but alas - where does big political money come from? You guessed it.

For my tax dollars I'll say I'd rather keep a few rights, not unduly overburden already overloaded court systems, jails etc. for the grand prize of sending joe blow who had 4 beers and 'didn't act normal' to jail.

As far as some of the DMV stats - take them with a grain of salt David. I know for a fact most states will issue the 'alcohol related' even if no drivers had a sip. 'Alcohol related' is a huge morass of overstatement.

 

[MrLuckey]

When a cop pulls someone over for suspected DUI it is because they "appear" to be driving impaired. After an interview with the officer it is decided whether or not an offence has occured. Are you against a cop pulling someone over for DUI? Should they wait to charge them unil an accident occurs?

I disagree - some bored cops late at night are willing to pull anyone over for barely crossing a yellow line, not because they think they might be drunk (or why wouldn't they pull over everyone who ever crosses a yellow line not matter the time or place?)...they are on fishing expeditions.

 

[MrLuckey]

I am glad in Texas they are enforcing the laws. But then again, I live here.

Come on David - I can drive for 10 minutes almost anywhere in texas and spot 5 guys drinking beer out of paper bag covered cans and bottles. They can't/won't/don't enforce the ones already in place. I'd be way more worried about those drinking and already in control of moving vehicles than the ones have a couple and acting crazy over the Cowboys on the big screen on Monday night.

Sorry for the number of posts - just reading an replying as I go lol.

 

[bsmith]

LOL!!! A DW Classic event right there. And there we were, trying to promote/provide a family event. At least it was at like 2am.

Is Cooperland a Public place? Private track, yet open to Public. If so this law would allow them to come in to DW and arrest anyone who looks like a Danger to them selves and to others! I'm guesing someone whos been drinking riding around on a 50 is a in danger!!

 

[MrLuckey]

Lol smiffy!

 

[ComradeMikhail]

I didn't read through all 24 pages, but I did get through about 10 or 11 of them. I'm not old enough to drink, so my opinions may differ than some who can but:
My opinion is it isn't right that the cops should be able to walk in and bust a person who's drunk for no reason. However, I do think that maybe there should be a cop stationed outside ensuring that anyone leaving has a designated driver, and a breathalizer test. If they don't pass the breath test, they should be escorted to jail. If someone is causing problems in the bar, then yes, they should also be escorted out. If they are alone with no designated driver, then yes, they should also be escorted out as well. So the law is reasonable, but should be limited to people causing a scene or without a designated driver, in my opinion that is.

 

[Jaybird]

Does the bar owner have the right to tell the cops to stay off his property, even if they have suspisions/reports of a dangerous person within?
Would they need a warrant if the bar owner can refuse them entry?

I am curious as to what Elk and Dave have to say.

 

[AssistSuper]

I've read a large chunk of this thread and will throw in my 2 cents.

First and foremost, I'll make it clear that I do not drink at all. I've done my fair share of drinking, and took an early retirement before it retired me.

I read a lot about "could harm". Do I think police have the right to arrest people in a bar to save them from themselves or others. Sure I do. If the problem is severe, like it supposedly is in Texas, then I think it requires swift action. Don't like it? Then don't get obliterated in a bar. Consider it your public duty? Okay I wouldn't go that far. But you get my point. I think it's wrong to arrest someone if they're just a little tipsy in a bar and are not driving. I understand that people like to get drunk at a bar and have a good time, there's no shame in that as long as you can handle it and are responsible. What I've yet to see are very credible sources stating that Joe Blow was arrested for PI because he had 3 beers in a bar while shooting pool.

Funny that I should see this thread, as last Saturday I was in a fender bender with a drunk driver. I'm living on campus this semester, and was coming home at around 3 AM from tinkering with my bike. Some broad had pulled into a parking space, and I attempted to drive past her in the parking lot. Right as I was passing her she put it in reverse and whips back out to straighten her parking job, and in the process hit the bed of my truck.

When she walked up to me, she smelled of liquor. She got the asschewing of her life. Sadly, I did not involve the police and have her arrested, which I truly regret. I was not thinking clearly. When I smelled booze on her breath my mind went straight into "Henry can't think straight I'm so pissed off" mode. Thankfully, not a thing happened to my truck. She had her sorority letters on her car so I did get a little sweet revenge. I got in touch with the president of her sorority, and had a little chat regarding the incident and her driving under the influence. Let's just say the drunk girl may not be a member of that sorority much longer.

I read a lot about personal responsibility. The problem here is there's always a big group of people that just can't seem to be responsible. If everyone was responsible, we wouldn't really need the legal system then, would we?

You can twist that one so many ways. You could even go to say that when I go to tinker with my bike late at night when I can't sleep, I'm not being responsible. I do in fact live in a college town. The chances of me being hit by a drunk driver are probably considerable higher than a normal town.

What I believe will happen, is that the cops checking bars will dwindle off. Do you actually think that cops are always going to be checking bars, now and always?

I don't care what you say, a bar is a public place. I've heard many stories of people being arrested for PI at late night diners and restraunts. Even had a friend be arrested at a diner for being drunk. What's the difference between a bar and a restaurant. One serves food, one serves alcohol. That's the only difference.

Another point I'll throw in that could be debated...have you ever watched COPS much? (I can't believe I'm admitting to watching that show, but it's hilarious!)....have you ever seen them pull someone over in a shaddy part of town, and tell them they have absolutely no business being there?

So in theory, could I get bored and go for a drive through Harlem late one night? What if I get stopped and am told to get out of the area? Isn't it a public place?

 

[Okiewan]

If this drinking thing goes unchecked, what's next?
That's right. Drunk Kitties.

 

[BunduBasher]

can anyone tell me - What's a publican ;)

 

[Vic]

can anyone tell me - What's a publican ;)

Publican: TAX COLLECTOR. A Jew who was a Roman Citizen who collected taxes for Rome. It was a profession looked upon by many Jews as treasonous and thus Publicans were often looked down upon (Matthew was a Publican (Matthew 10:3) and so was Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2)).

:)

 

[Patman]

If this drinking thing goes unchecked, what's next?
That's right. Drunk Kitties.

Why does Lou keep getting dragged in to this? :)

 

[XRpredator]

Why does Lou keep getting dragged in to this? :)

at least their only drunk, Pat. I guess he didn't *finish* . . .

flawopsplork!

 

[BunduBasher]

can anyone tell me - What's a publican ;)

Nice one Vic, but not the one I was looking for !

from dictionary.com
Chiefly British. The keeper of a public house or tavern.

 

[XRpredator]

. . . not the one I was looking for !

These aren't the droids you're looking for, he can move along . . .

 

[Papakeith]

Jmfm

 

[Offroadr]

LOL!!! A DW Classic event right there. And there we were, trying to promote/provide a family event. At least it was at like 2am.

uhhhh scary to say the least

a Spodefest moment

 

[bsmith]

I finally though of the movie this reminded me of!

Minority Report is set in Washington, D.C. during the year 2054. Thanks to three "precogs" and technology built around their ability to see murders before they happen, the city has gone six years without a homicide. The group making use of the precogs is called the "Department of Pre-Crime"; the police officers and detectives within the department are empowered to act on their foreknowledge, arresting people who are about to commit a murder, and imprisoning them without a trial in a "Hall of Containment" using technology even crueler than that used to make use of the precogs.
Another theme is the looming threat of a totalitarian society. Although Pre-crime is extremely successful, effectively ending murder in Washington for six years, throughout the film we see that the people of the city have little privacy. Shops, mass transit, and government buildings are equipped with eye scanning devices, which identify each individual immediately (bearing some resemblance to a similar device in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four). One of the movie's most spectacular scenes involves artificial robotic spiders scouring an apartment complex, barging into rooms without the permission of its residents or a search warrant. It raises the question of whether people would rather be safe or free.

 

[truespode]

It raises the question of whether people would rather be safe or free.

1984 and Farhenheit 451 all did the same for me. Minority report was good but not near as scary as when I read those books... maybe because I was younger and they opened my eyes.

I even did my senior paper on Ray Bradbury so I had a lot more research than just the book.

I would rather be free. Tragedy is part of life and something you must deal with. Or like the dramaqueens like to quote "I coulda missed the flame but I'd had to miss the dance."

I am a bit hypocritical in that I agree with much of the Patriot Act but whatcha gonna do?

Ivan