Couple killed in motorcycle crash had high blood-alcohol levels, tests show (Austin PD)

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN ^ | Thursday, December 16, 2004 | By Asher Price

[Dominic Harr]

If the laws there are anything like the laws here (Florida) then if someone is busted while intoxicated over a limit, the person(s) supplying the drink it busted as well, because they are required to not over-serve someone.

That's what makes this case so interesting --

1. The bartender was not arrested for serving drinks to them while they were drunk. The bartender was arrested for being intoxicated while serving drinks, something that is rarely if ever enforced (making it sound like a scape-goat/witch hunt kind of situation).

2. And if the laws require the bartender to determine when the person is drunk and take action, what about the 100+ off-duty officers in the room who knew the individuals personally? Don't they share some responsibility?

[zlala]

The cops I have know where big drinkers and drove drunk all the time.

Many of the cops I've known have been the same. I once was in a car with the cop friend driving...he stopped at a convenience store and bought something. He started driving again, while pulling out the BIG bottle of liquor and was swilling it all the way to our destination. I was just stupefied.

[God bless Texas]

Close to where I live also. What would have happened if these idiots had killed someone else. The cops that let them leave the bar (not under arrest) should be indited.

[t-1000]

There is two sets of laws that the cops enforce.

The law that the public must obey and the "cop code" that is applicable only to cops and retired cops.

The "cop code" takes precedent over all other laws except murder (while off duty).

So (a cop) driving drunk is acceptable unless it results in the death of somebody else. At which point the arresting officer is force to do an investigation.
Pretty bad.


I saw the Police Chief driving his van around town with an Old Style (beer) between his legs.
Nice...

[JoeSixPack1]

There have been plenty of sportbike bashing comments/posts in the past.

Find one that was not a retalitory remark by a bike owner and I'll never post again!!! :-)

[monday]

"Good thing it was a harley and not a real bike that was destroyed. :)"

I agree. Harleys are only for people who have never had a real bike, but ya gotta admit, they do sound nice. I think thats why some people like them.

[Xenalyte]

Why are you on this site?

[monday]

"If the laws there are anything like the laws here (Florida) then if someone is busted while intoxicated over a limit, the person(s) supplying the drink it busted as well, because they are required to not over-serve someone. Vague, but it can protect people from potential DUI related deaths."

Bartenders are to assume that everyone is going to be driving after leaving the bar? What about people who use designated drivers, people who take taxis, or people who walk home?

2 drinks in an hour would put most people over the limit. If what you say is true, then all the bartenders in Florida should probably be in jail.

[Lagrange Point]

You got that right. I see cops turn on their lights and sirens to go through a red light, then turn them off.

They can't be bothered to wait like ordinary people.

L.P.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If what you say is true, then all the bartenders in Florida should probably be in jail.

I am not in the legal profession so I could be wrong. But I'll ping someone who knows...

[monday]

"Of course, they were all the left-over 60s, dope smoking hippies."

There is not a more ridiculous group of people on the planet. What is amazing is that there are actually young hippies too. Not many thankfully, but it seems that they are born that way. Perhaps their mothers did too many drugs during their pregnancies?

[evets]

[Calamari]

"the bathroom excuse".

They weren't in there the whole time.

"We have a policy that says our employees will not violate the law."

So enforce the policy and discipline all employees who participated in the event.

[SFC Chromey]

Yes, good thing!

[monkeyshine]

I agree with you, except this guy was retired. There was a recent story here in Los Angeles about cops on the beat, who spend more time eating donuts than working. Sounds like an old joke, but it's true, they were followed around by hidden cameras and seens lounging around different eateries for most of their shifts.

[Paulus Invictus]

Cops + Excessive alcohol + motorcycle + speed + no helmets = Death by stupidity. Darwin triumphs again. Did y'all notice that the bar was a cop's hangout (apparently)? Who investigated the accident? More drunks? Are there such people as alcohol-free cops? Scary thought!

[FreePaul]

Retired officers and relatives/friends of officers generally get special treatment such as getting away with criminal activity when investigating officers are not pressed to do anything. I guess we're lucky that the officers in your story were eating donuts rather than bar hopping.

A woman I worked with left an office party pretty drunk one afternoon. She didn't have a lot to drink but apparently wasn't much of a drinker. She passed out in her car on the side of the road. A police officer stopped and found that her husband was a police officer in another agency. He offered to drive her home. She objected because she didn't want her husband to know. The officer let her drive home with him following although she was obviously drunk. Wouldn't have happened to anyone not "connected."

[FreePaul]

Retired officers and relatives/friends of officers generally get special treatment such as getting away with criminal activity when investigating officers are not pressed to do anything. I guess we're lucky that the officers in your story were eating donuts rather than bar hopping.

A woman I worked with left an office party pretty drunk one afternoon. She didn't have a lot to drink but apparently wasn't much of a drinker. She passed out in her car on the side of the road. A police officer stopped and found that her husband was a police officer in another agency. He offered to drive her home. She objected because she didn't want her husband to know. The officer let her drive home with him following although she was obviously drunk. Wouldn't have happened to anyone not "connected."

[FreePaul]

Sorry for the double post. Must have been some delay since it didn't appear to go through the first time.

[Itzlzha]

And, of course..."professional coutesy" PREVENTED the LEO's there at the bar from cuffing these morons BEFORE they committed MORE offenses and caused more damage...

Which is why I'm afraid ALL cops must be tarred with the same brush...if it's only 1 or 2% that are the problem...the 98 or 99% who, by silence or obliviousness, CONDONE and support their actions make THEM public enemy #1! Worse that the crips and bloods...worse than "Hell's Angels"...and quite possibly worse than the Jihadis that are a threat to Humanity!

End the Code Red...end the Blue Wall...no more "professional courtesy" for cop families and connected politicos. If the wife of a police Sgt. gets caught DUI...BUST her...if the Sgt. is caught...BUST HIM!

No more "no-knock raids" on the WRONG house, and then skate on an C.Y.A internal investigation probe...no more BAD shoots that are swept under the rug, while citizens are HOUNDED for defending themselves in their own homes!

Treat ALL equal under the law, and the populace MIGHT return to respecting them. We are NOT subjects...we are cityizens that have guaranteed rights...no matter WHAT the JBT's and the corrupt politicos do.