Police behavior...

[matis]

On the other hand, when the police are used to do this sort of thing -- Checking people for having drunk too much -- IN A BAR?? -- then what????

Matis

[If what is alleged is true, this is simply thuggish behavior on the part of Fairfax County police and the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control. --Declan]




http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24635-2003Jan7.html


[...]


At Champps in Reston, general manager Kevin O'Hare described police as
"antagonistic." He said they "pulled" people from their chairs who
were making no commotion. "They're always welcome to come in anytime,"
he said of police. "It's not an issue when they talk to our guests.
But when they actually pull people out of their seats, it is an issue.
When it's borderline harassment, it's an issue."


One man who was arrested during one of the police raids acknowledged
having several drinks during the course of the afternoon, but said he


was not driving or acting unruly as he sat at a table with several
work colleagues. He had just finished singing "Jingle Bell Rock" on
the karaoke machine when an officer asked him to step outside. He
failed a breath test and was taken in a van to jail.


"I've lived my life with tremendous respect for the rule of law," said
the man, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is contesting
the charges.


On the other hand, when the police do this -- raiding a BAR!! to check for people who had drunk too much!! -- then what?


Now his respect is tarnished.


[...]





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Matis

 

[Coronach]

Gotta be more to it than this. Why were the police there, and why did they snatch him up?

Lots missing here.

Mike

 

[matis]

Coronach, click on the url...it's all there.

To me this is an example, although not as serious, perhaps, of what is happening to the usa. Government and police pushing themselves more and more into what is by no stretch of the imagination any fo their affair. Laws to protect us against ourselves have no end in sight: seat-belts and helmets I've used since I realized their importance. But to have the police enforce such things? Take your child to the emergency room or even the doctors office, let him see bruises and he reports you to child-protective service? Disagree with the doctor on his recommended treatment or innoculation for your child and be faced with child abuse or neglect charges. And on and on.

That's what I'm getting at (not to mention "protecting" us from our own guns).

Matic

 

[DeltaElite]

Well, the article is lame at best, but I will believe almost anything in that part of the country.
Damn Liberals.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Guys, cops have been doing bar checks for decades now.

 

[22x9]

Ok. I've lost count of the number of times that I did drunken Karaoke at that Chammps. Never had a cop or anyone pull me outside.

There has to be more to this story. Either that or the guy really sucked at singing jingle bell rock.

Note to self: Do not sing/karaoke Jingle Bell Rocl at Chammps, better sing I fought the Law and the Law won...

 

[matis]

I wasn't aware of that...

... probably because I don't go to bars.

But they've been writing thousands of gun laws for decades, too. Is either one right?

Matis

 

[Coronach]

Actually

This same thing is under discussion here. In the interests of consistency, lets all take this over there.

Mike