| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Superabounder |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 08:58:40
The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission has started a program of having undercover agents inside bars to watch patrons who are drinking excessively and arresting them on the spot. Even if you are not driving, you can be arrested, without even taking a breathalyzer or blood test. Being loud or argumentative have been "signals" for the undercover agents to watch out for you and possibly arrest you.
The point is to catch people before they get in a car and DWI.
One guy was arrested while drinking too many beers at the HOTEL BAR WHERE HE WAS STAYING as he walked back to his room.
Geeez. What's next? Cameras in your house to watch if you have had too many beers before walking back to your bedroom?
I tend to think of human beings as huge rubbery test tubes, too, with chemical reactions seething inside |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| glacial906 |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 22:14:48
I can recall one night, about four years ago, being at a bar with some co-workers after work. It was about 2:30 in the morning, and we were at O'Charly's, having consumed quite a few pitchers of beer. Well, there was a cop sitting amongst our party, he was friends with one of the co-workers or something. But the cop was buying drink after drink after drink for everybody, practically encouraging them to get smashed. I remembered thinking this was odd, and I don't know if I was the only one that thought that way or not, but everybody else seemed too far gone to realize. I could just imagine the cop sitting there, having a good time laughing and drinking it up with everybody, and then on his way out calling his fellow cop buddies for a ride home and telling them that they'd be able to meet this month's quota down at the local O'Charly's. Or, worse yet, the cop driving himself home. He KNEW that no one was a designated driver, and yet he kept buying everyone drinks. I realize that people make their own decisions but for someone who's job it is to uphold the law, this seemed kind of hypocritical.
Signature censored by forum moderators. |
| kathryn |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 19:03:18
quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
My reply to the jackass I'd gone to make sure was being taken care of was, incidentally, "If I were gay I could do much better than them". It worked well enough.
Good one, Dean, good one!
I’m the only one who can say that this light is mine
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| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 18:35:19
Well, again, who knows if the media is printing everything, but I'd say judging by that article, I agree with you 100% that that is not only ridiculous but abusive, heavy-handed, and just plain wrong.
 "If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." |
| Superabounder |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 18:23:10
quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
Your story about the guy being drunk in the hotel bar, ridiculous if true, but is it the whole story? Surely they were watching more than simply how much he drank down? Did he try to start a fight or something?
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate."
Here is the story from the Dallas Morning News about the guy at the hotel. You may have to register to read it:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032406dntexbardrinkers.10b9f8a.html
I tend to think of human beings as huge rubbery test tubes, too, with chemical reactions seething inside |
| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 17:30:22
Heh, K, the other day I was done work and having a drink with some friends that came by to visit, and obviously still dressed in my work clothes. I saw one table that only one guy had drinks and I'd noticed the waitress hadn't been by in a while. So I got up and asked them if they were waiting for drinks/their waitress had taken care of them. The one guy says, "Uh, yeah" the other guy wants to be funny and he asks, "Why do you care?" to which I reply that I work there, and he says, "Oh. I thought maybe you were hitting on one of my buddies or something". So apparently, I'm the one hitting on guys at the bar...
My reply to the jackass I'd gone to make sure was being taken care of was, incidentally, "If I were gay I could do much better than them". It worked well enough.
On topic, I don't like people being arrested for being drunk. It's when they're drunk and doing something stupid that could harm others that would be where I wouldn't object. I suppose it's creepy, but if you think about it as security guards in malls, then it's really not that far removed. Your story about the guy being drunk in the hotel bar, ridiculous if true, but is it the whole story? Surely they were watching more than simply how much he drank down? Did he try to start a fight or something?
The thing with any laws like this is that we really need to be careful we're not overextending the reach of enforcement officers beyond preventing harm to others. They do scare me because the government always wants to get more involved where it doesn't belong - in peoples' personal lives. It's not cut and dried in this scenario, however, as least I don't think so.
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." |
| Carl |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 17:07:07
Alcohol is a cause of a lot of problems, but I think these measures wander a bit too close to the realms of facism.
 pas de dutchie! |
| Superabounder |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 11:00:52
Like I said, as long as he doesn't go inside...
I tend to think of human beings as huge rubbery test tubes, too, with chemical reactions seething inside |
| kathryn |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 10:57:36
What if the drunk guy was hitting on Dean?
I’m the only one who can say that this light is mine
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| Superabounder |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 10:54:34
I'm all for the tough stance when people are belligerent or have an obvious alcohol problem with DUI convictions, etc. Still, at a bar or a club, going to see a band, taking proper measures to make sure someone else is driving, and STILL being busted. I think that is BS.
I would even understand having cops outside the parking lot checking the people that are driving off down the street. If someone chooses to get behind the wheel drunk, well then they would have to suffer the consequences. But I think the going inside bit is too far (unless a drunk guy is picking on Dean at the bar).
I tend to think of human beings as huge rubbery test tubes, too, with chemical reactions seething inside |
| kathryn |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 10:18:26
i have a problem w. a friend of mine having spent drunk a terrifying amount of time pending her second DUI trial.
her license is suspended but she gets behind the wheel whenever she gets smashed, sometimes at 7 a.m.
i don't think you can be tough enough in these cases. people give up their civil liberties when they are that far tightly in alcoholism's grip.
I’m the only one who can say that this light is mine
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| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 10:15:57
Most places in the world that's allowed. North America is one of the few exceptions...
I'm okay with that too, though. I don't have a problem with non-drivers getting sloshed.
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." |
| floop |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 09:43:29
in Montana you're allowed to drive with an open beer in your car. those guys know how to run a state
"A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it." - General George S. Patton |
| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 03/25/2006 : 09:19:30
With some heavy restrictions on who they can arrest and when, I would actually be in favour of this...
Talking loud and being argumentative is not a reason, but if you start picking a fight or whatever then I'd personally love to see the person put in cuffs. The other day, there was some jackass breaking glasses on purpose. Just dropping them to hear them shatter. A broken nose would've looked good on him, but I'd settle for cuffs.
And as for DUIs, well, they should have to start the car and take it out of park for that to be enforced, in my opinion.
I'm not saying I agree with nabbing people who are just sloshed. But sloshed and causing trouble, yes. Hell, sober and causing trouble. I don't care.
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." |
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