elfman

Whatever you do - don't get drunk in a bar:

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.

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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060322/us_nm/bars_dc

Don't we have more than a few BE members in that area?

Next up - people will be hauled off to the slammer for buying porn DVDs from adult stores.

snowbunny

You mean in Hell--I mean, Plano? that's one of many Dallas "suburbs." Dallas proper is rather small.

The laws are pretty clear -- you cannot be intoxicated in public. You must drink at home, which also has the benefit of not having anyone hit on you, pinch your arse, or having to drive home.

Maybe the Junior Leaguers fell on hard times and have taken up this public crusade?

Much of Texas law is based upon the intangible "community standards" doctrine. What would not be acceptable in some sterile Richardson fern bar would be fine in South Austin.

Bob

BE members will be safe as they've all discovered the internet

Minty

Here are some interesting Texas laws:

When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone.

Up to a felony charge can be levied for promoting the use of, or owning more than six dildos.

It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.

It is illegal to milk another person's cow.

A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.

And here is the one for drunks to watch out for:

It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.

AdobePinon

Oh gawd. Fern bar. Now you're scaring me....

snowbunny

Do you have a reference for this one?

I actually quite like it.

HEY BUBBA:
Sometime after tomorruh I'm gone ki' yoo with a sawed off shotgun fur no good reason a tall.

mickmills

Seriously?! Glad i dont live in Texas then!

Yosser

I actually agree with a law like that. I mean if you at a bar and your getting drunk the chances are that in and around Dallas you will be attempting to drive home.

The public transport is so piss poor in Dallas everyone drinks and drives and if you are driving around the highways after 10pm you will see people weaving around, staggering the white lines etc. Its bloody scary.

I always had it drummed into me back in Blighty not to drink and drive for fear of killing people, losing your licence etc, in Dallas you get a big fine and a slap on the wrist and no one bats an eyelid.

lolly

Not much better in UK, my friends 18 year old Daughter was killed walking across a zebra crossing. It was Xmas eve in the middle of a small town, loads of people around my friend and her Husband saw it happen Daughter was crossing with her boy friend- lights were red. Bright spark was being the "Boy racer" went through the red light. Daughter was in a coma for 2 weeks then died, boy friend year and half later still having ops on his legs. Bright spark got 18 months and he was over the limit. How is that for justice ???

mickmills

They should make the punishments for drink driving more severe, rather than say you can't be drunk in a bar.

Yosser

I totally agree....I guess it seems very unfair if your just having a quiet drink, you have a ride sorted out with no intentions of driving home and to have a Dallas cop bust you....but its just so common here to drink and drive in Dallas that people just don't care. I have heard of a bar where the cops will sit outside and bust each person as they leave the bar and get behind the wheel, but no-one gives a sh!t

ironporer

"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."

Thank goodness that big brother is watching out for us. I mean, how could they actually trust that if we go to a bar and drink, that we might actually have a designated driver, or plan on a taxi ride home or other respnonsable behaviour.

I think they should also begin legislation to ban all balconies and pools...in the name of public saftey.

Jaxbar

Maybe the police should be standing at the buffet tables in restaurants ensuring that people dont make bad choices or overload their plate after all heart disease kills a lot of people!

jjmb

Doesn't that mean that there will a lot of bartenders without jobs in Texas, because its illegal to serve drinks to someone who is drunk.

TruBrit

i've been telling y'all it sure is fun living here