Comments on: Texas Public Intoxication Law Is An Open Invitation For Abuse http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Sat, 18 May 2013 21:32:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Alejo Villa http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-58809 Alejo Villa Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:19:17 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-58809 This is almost incredible to believe, I was intoxicated, and my friends left me, I ask a police man help to find a taxi car or a hotel cheap by and they arrest me right away and took me to jail, when actually I just needed help... Now I have to go to court and pay a fine.... This is almost incredible to believe, I was intoxicated, and my friends left me, I ask a police man help to find a taxi car or a hotel cheap by and they arrest me right away and took me to jail, when actually I just needed help…
Now I have to go to court and pay a fine….

]]> By: Freelander http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-44537 Freelander Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:37:38 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-44537 I've been a TX peace officer for 10 years and with my department there is always talk about the P.I. laws. Every agency governs itself on who needs to go to jail; however, Texas law clearly states that Officers have the "freewill" for lack of better word to decide when to arrest. I have arrested several people for P.I. and still will. We have a policy that states that we conduct the S.F.S.T.'s just like we would for a DWI charge so there would be no question as to the impairment of the indivisual. Once again every agency sets it's own guidlines for this. I’ve been a TX peace officer for 10 years and with my department there is always talk about the P.I. laws. Every agency governs itself on who needs to go to jail; however, Texas law clearly states that Officers have the “freewill” for lack of better word to decide when to arrest. I have arrested several people for P.I. and still will. We have a policy that states that we conduct the S.F.S.T.’s just like we would for a DWI charge so there would be no question as to the impairment of the indivisual. Once again every agency sets it’s own guidlines for this.

]]> By: Richard W. Fitch http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-44056 Richard W. Fitch Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:50:57 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-44056 The NY Times has now weighed in on the event with a very gay positive perspective: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/us/05texas.html?_r=6&sq=gay%20fort%20worth&st=cse&scp=2&pagewanted=print The NY Times has now weighed in on the event with a very gay positive perspective:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/us/05texas.html?_r=6&sq=gay%20fort%20worth&st=cse&scp=2&pagewanted=print

]]> By: libhomo http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-44053 libhomo Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:30:07 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-44053 Texas is so corrupt, it isn't even funny. Texas is so corrupt, it isn’t even funny.

]]> By: cd http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-43997 cd Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:14:56 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-43997 I'm still persuaded the basic m.o. is one of shakedown of drinking establishments. But it does sound rather like Texas- a weird, counterproductive, official puritanism made law with pointless enforcement for lack of any more productive means of improving public life. I’m still persuaded the basic m.o. is one of shakedown of drinking establishments.

But it does sound rather like Texas- a weird, counterproductive, official puritanism made law with pointless enforcement for lack of any more productive means of improving public life.

]]> By: Richard W. Fitch http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-43984 Richard W. Fitch Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:21:18 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-43984 (@Lucas) The way the PI statues for Texas are written, any business that serves the general public is a PUBLIC place. The guidelines on PI are so vague that TABC agents can say "YOU are drunk" and you are. There is no need for breathalyzer or field sobriety testing. They have free rein to arrest you for asking a question, which constitutes resisting arrest or obstructing a LEO. This all sounds like agents of the SS and NOT public servants. You can get more first hand info at: http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=109253439840&page=0&hash=abdc343ac879727a6fe32e3f14250f49#/group.php?gid=109253439840 This is a page setup specifically to deal with the issues precipitated by the events June 28 and following. The page also has contact info for those who wish to register complaints to the various agencies involved and to the offices of city and state govt. (@Lucas) The way the PI statues for Texas are written, any business that serves the general public is a PUBLIC place. The guidelines on PI are so vague that TABC agents can say “YOU are drunk” and you are. There is no need for breathalyzer or field sobriety testing. They have free rein to arrest you for asking a question, which constitutes resisting arrest or obstructing a LEO. This all sounds like agents of the SS and NOT public servants. You can get more first hand info at:
http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=109253439840&page=0&hash=abdc343ac879727a6fe32e3f14250f49#/group.php?gid=109253439840
This is a page setup specifically to deal with the issues precipitated by the events June 28 and following. The page also has contact info for those who wish to register complaints to the various agencies involved and to the offices of city and state govt.

]]> By: Lucas http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-43983 Lucas Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:56:07 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-43983 I'm confused, what constitutes <b><i>public</i></b> intoxication? Since Rainbow Lounge patrons are <i>inside</i> the bar -- inside <b><i>private</b></i> property -- so technically, they can't be considered <b><i>public</i></b> intoxication, right? And if it is considered public intoxication, can law enforcement then enter into people's homes and arrest people on the grounds of <b>public</b> intoxication? I’m confused, what constitutes public intoxication? Since Rainbow Lounge patrons are inside the bar — inside private property — so technically, they can’t be considered public intoxication, right? And if it is considered public intoxication, can law enforcement then enter into people’s homes and arrest people on the grounds of public intoxication?

]]> By: Michael http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-43978 Michael Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:24:17 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-43978 It would be interesting to find out if the patrons at the other bars these officers had "inspected" prior to the Rainbow Lounge were subjected to similar abuses. My guess is that since there have been no public allegations of police brutality or misconduct from those patrons(even though 9 arrests were made), then nothing out of the ordinary happened. Or if abuses did occur, nobody's talking, which doesn't seem likely. Just sayin'... It would be interesting to find out if the patrons at the other bars these officers had “inspected” prior to the Rainbow Lounge were subjected to similar abuses. My guess is that since there have been no public allegations of police brutality or misconduct from those patrons(even though 9 arrests were made), then nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Or if abuses did occur, nobody’s talking, which doesn’t seem likely.

Just sayin’…

]]> By: Trevor http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-43972 Trevor Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:54:30 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-43972 It may not be prudent to release the names of the officers that were reassigned to desk duty, at least at this time. I suspect given the nature of the accusation and the likely outcry from the public (already demonstrating), its better to keep the names of the officers under wraps. At least until formal charges are brought against them. It may not be prudent to release the names of the officers that were reassigned to desk duty, at least at this time. I suspect given the nature of the accusation and the likely outcry from the public (already demonstrating), its better to keep the names of the officers under wraps. At least until formal charges are brought against them.

]]> By: paul j stein http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/07/02/12832/comment-page-1#comment-43964 paul j stein Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:48:04 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=12832#comment-43964 SUE everyone involved including supervisors who looked the other way. Pensions,joint money, trust funds,freeze accounts, all of it from everyone. SUE everyone involved including supervisors who looked the other way. Pensions,joint money, trust funds,freeze accounts, all of it from everyone.

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