Jackbooted Teetotalers: 'Don't Drink in the Bar'

Center For Consumer Freedom ^ | January 7, 2003 | CCF

[ZGuy]

Talk about shooting fish in a barrel! Officers in “SWAT-like garb” are now bursting into Northern Virginia bars in search of intoxicated patrons. Anyone registering over 0.08 percent Blood Alcohol Concentration -- the legal limit for driving -- is subject to arrest. Anyone who looks drunk can be written up.

Police justify the arrests by saying that they want to ensure customers aren’t being “overserved.” Bar-goers with that unlucky fate “would be transported to an adult detention center until they sobered up.” Perhaps the police haven’t heard of getting a ride from a friend and sobering up at home.

A manager of one targeted bar complained that his arrested customers “weren’t bothering anybody. They were just sitting at the bar.” Another complained: “They seemed to be tagging people at random,” including one woman who was on her first drink. One owner accused police of “pulling people out that were not even drunk.”

When police incarcerate people for the crime of having a few drinks, it’s no wonder that bar managers are starting to compare police tactics “to those of Hitler’s Gestapo.” According to a Fairfax County, Virginia police spokeswoman, officers aren’t even required to let managers or customers know what was going on. “That’s just a courtesy,” she said.

[AppyPappy]

Welcome to NoVa.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Is this a Hold my jackbooted thug beer alert?

[Sam Cree]

So what law is actually being enforced here?

[Protagoras]

Keep your powder dry, the time is growing nearer.

[Dust in the Wind]

Is there a "public intoxication" law there?

[freeeee]

Someone get these dullards a history book so they can read (if they can read) about the rousing success of the last Prohibition.

North Virginia PD is a bunch of blue nosed, busy body ninnies. And here's their hero:

[tacticalogic]

"The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly." - Abraham Lincoln

[Texas Mom]

If you think this is the only place doing this.. (State, County, City) Think again. Don't think they all use SWAT teams though.

[dead]

This was got to give the WODies woodies.

[Fiddlstix]

Good Grief!

[jz638]

One time I took a breathalyzer to a bar for a lark (it was one of the cheaper pocket models they sell at those upscale shops). I learned two interesting things: 1.) you can test drunk on one sip of beer if you swish it around your mouth enough 2.) at 10pm, the electric fan will test at 0.03

[AppyPappy]

Yes. Don't drink and drive.

[L.N. Smithee]

So what law is actually being enforced here?

The Washington Times story that the Consumer Freedom article links gives more complete info.

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Under Virginia statute, an establishment with a liquor license is considered a public place. That gives police the right to enter and issue citations for public drunkenness.

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[samuel_adams_us]

Welcome to prohibition once again, it's about time someone started putting these cops and their gestapo bosses in their place. I would offer that someone should sue these bastards or start kicking their butts in a dark alley.

[Fred Mertz]

Ride a horse to the bar. I've seen it done.

[vin-one]

since this is happening in my town of Reston VA. and several of the bars
they speak of, I have dinner at frequently, MY plan if I ever see them is to lead
the bar in recieting the consitution.
Can you imagine, 50 people reciting the constitution or singing God Bless America.
Either that or I will start yelling Sieg Hiel, Sieg Hiel.
Which would be more effective.

[ladylib]

It's up to customers to let bars and restaurants with bars know that they will be going out of state for private parties, receptions, dinners, and the like. Can you imagine the cops dragging the mother of the bride off in one of their Gestapo sweeps?

Bars and restaurants pay taxes, they hire bar people, waitresses, waiters, busboys, etc. They should let their legislators know that they will cease doing business in Virginia if the legislators don't change the law.