Former Dallas district judge Catherine Crier was on the Today show this morning to serve as an "expert" on the recent news of TABC agents arresting people in bars for public intoxication.
She said, "understand that the issue is whether a person the person arrested has lost the normal use of his mental or physical faculties." That's not right. Although that is the standard for intoxication in DWI cases, the standard in public intoxication cases is whether the person "is a danger to himself and to others."
She also said that "every new prosecutor begins trying these kind [public intoxication] cases." That's not right either. PI is a Class C which is filed in JP or municipal courts. Ninety-nine percent of prosecutors never try a case in those courts.
And she's got a national TV show.
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3.24.2006
Small Rant
Former Dallas district judge Catherine Crier was on the Today show this morning to serve as an "expert" on the recent news of TABC agents arresting people in bars for public intoxication.
She said, "understand that the issue is whether a person the person arrested has lost the normal use of his mental or physical faculties." That's not right. Although that is the standard for intoxication in DWI cases, the standard in public intoxication cases is whether the person "is a danger to himself and to others."
She also said that "every new prosecutor begins trying these kind [public intoxication] cases." That's not right either. PI is a Class C which is filed in JP or municipal courts. Ninety-nine percent of prosecutors never try a case in those courts.
And she's got a national TV show.
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20 comments:
All drunks should be in jail!
anon @ 7:59 ...
Were you High when you wrote that?
If we put every person in jail who used ANY type of stimulant or alternating substance .. everyone would be in jail ...
Nicotine ..
Caffeine ...
Alochol ...
Anti Depressants ..
Aspirins ..etc ..
Come done off your mountain ...
With an attitude like that .. I bet you are a Republican
Barry, you think 7:59 would be a good states juror?
Thanks, Barry, for the clarity. There are some on this blog who will never see the light but perhaps enough will be educated so we can get back to the middle.
I wonder where the networks get these "experts." Would it do any good to forward your comment to the Today producers? Probably not - they just want a pretty (?) face to throw in some comment without worrying about factual content. Thanks for bringing some clarity to this misquote.
anon 10:01 I bet you are a liberal
11:57 - you don't indicate where you disagree with 10:01. What makes you this he's a "liberal?" Why not try to discuss issues rather than labels?
Admittingly 7:59 is being a little extreme, but so is 10:01. To compare drunkenness to over-the-counter drugs is a little over the top, too. I've been drunk before, even to the point of being a danger to myself and others. By the grace of God and jail-time due to a related offense, I finally realized that this type of behavior by myself and others who consumed too much was uncivil and uncalled for. After this realization, I no longer drink or associate with those who do. This is my personal choice. I credit the arrest for helping me realize my problem and my turn around. Perhaps if more of these uncontrollable "heavy drinkers" faced some legal penalty, they might turn away from the behavior as well. Heck, we might even see domestic violence drop as well as fewer drunk driving fatalities. I'm not saying to throw all of them in jail, but at least make an attempt to fine them or something. I don't know about anyone else, but hitting my pocket book with a speeding ticket will slow me down for awhile. I think the same affect could be reached with PI offenders (or at least try). I commend this women for at least trying to take a stand against something she feels strongly against. At least she's taking a stand. That's more than most of us will do. Just my .02!
10:01-
I bet you are a drunk. . . in denial!!
I'm drunk.
After reading all this arguing, I want to go get drunk!
Rush Limbaugh was even talking about the Irving, Texas bar arrests on his radio show today. He joked that his beloved Bush might be blamed. Greg Knapp on 570 last night was talking about it and had the Irving mayor on his show to discuss. Gregg mentioned that people might not want to have any conventions in the area if this was going to be the norm.
nicotine, caffeine, last I ck they where not drugs! Alochol is a drug that kills everyday
Actually 3:40, they are drugs...but it is a little extreme to put them in the same category as alcohol. Nothing's wrong with alcohol either as long as you don't get behind the wheel or endanger yourself or others...everything in moderation...
Well I'm a Republican, very conservative, and a law enforcement officer... and I agree with Barry on this one. TABC is a useless organization regarding individual law enforcement, they should stick to policing the licensing of establishments serving alcohol and leave the community safety aspects of law enforcement to local services. To go into a hotel bar and arrest a hotel guest for drinking too much is nuts. Barry was absolutely right about the "a danger to self or others" test for Public Intoxication. In these cases, that test was not truthfully applied to the patrons.
legalize everything
Haven't you anti-alcohol nutz heard all about the benefits of a few drinks per day? Check with any Dr. an they'll tell you about 2 drinks a day has several beneficial affects. No one advises driving a car, bus or plane after drinking. One must use some common sense.
Tell that to all the ones that have lost family to drunk drivers!
11:26 - can't you read? I said, "No one advises driving a car, bus or plane after drinking. One must use some common sense."
Do you get it yet? A couple of drinks have medicinal value. But don't drive afterwards. Makes sense, huh? BTW - Jesus drank lots of wine in his day. Don't think he killed anyone afterwards.
I'm still drunk.
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