Overzealous cops overstepping bounds

[Mr. Goodbytes]

Again.

Story

Don't go to the bars in Fairfax County, Virginia. Unless you're carrying that is. j/k Cops there are now entering bars and pulling patrons out to conduct sobriety tests. First of all, that's gotta be unconstitutional. If a bar owner or employee calls the cops about an unruly patron, that's one thing, but grabbing people at random is going way past the line. I should be able to be so completely drunk that I'm obliterated, and as long as I'm not puking in the bar or causing problems, I should be able to be left in peace till I have a safe ride home (before the bar closes of course). If I get cut off, that's probably for the best, but the police have no right to come in there on their own accord and start pulling that crap.

It reminds me of when I read in the paper that a passenger in a car gets arrested for Public Intoxication because for some reason (usually the driver having too much) instead of offering the passenger a ride home, the cops ask that person to step out of the vehicle and then arrest him.

I find that offensive.. big time. And I don't drink....

[korgul]

The citizens should start going to the bars that police hang out at and start making citizens arrests.

This is a bunch of bull.

[Epidemic]

Virginia statutes say any business with a liquor license is considered a public place; therefore, police are allowed free access. If they find someone over the legal alcohol limit of .08, or suspect a customer of being intoxicated while still being served or present in an establishment, police can issue a ticket for public intoxication.


They ticket for blowing a .08 That is amazing. If you are driving at .08 that is one thing but you are not publically drunk.

You are somewhat slower in the motor skills arena at that point but by no means sloppy drunk IMO.

http://www.radford.edu/~kcastleb/bac.html

[Arucard]

Thats real dang funny. I laugh because i want to see it happen to a few people I dont like, but otherwise pretty stupid since the police could get in serious trouble if there was no just cause to arrest the person in the first place. Just cause someones in a bar doesn't mean that they are drunk, and that the police should be giving the right to do a random check on people that are just there to have some fun. I'd be taking them to court and have that crap set in place, right in there *****.

[vass0922]

While they say its public intoxication.. well isn't it better at a bar than a grocery store? Last I checked a bar is where people usually go for a drink... unless they changed a rule at some time?

If they're causing a problem, or it appears they're trying to drive by all means stop them.. I live in fairfax county where its taking place.. I emailed it out to a few folks that maybe interested.

[Richard Cranium]

That is very strange, a privately owned establishment considered a "public" place..

In Georgia, the only public places are Gov't owned or operated, such as a school, post office and the like.

They cannot do that BS here, but when you hit the road, another story.