Monday, February 13, 2006

a severely dumb question

Please don't look at me that way. I don't like asking any more than I like you knowing that I feel dumb about this.

Is it illegal to be drunk in public?

10 comments:

melissa said...

If you're in a public place and acting stupid, you could be arrested or ticketed for it.

Yup.

It's not legal to be--hiccup--drunk in public.

That's why it surprised me when I lived in London to see people on the tube with open containers just like it was something they did all the time. (Because they did...)

melissa said...

And if you don't want me to look at you like that, don't look at me like that.

*narrows eyes*

*trying to keep a straight face*

*giggles*

Poppy said...

Okay, dumb question #2: Why don't cops stand outside of bars to arrest the drunk people? And, why is it legal to serve enough to get someone drunk?

Poppy said...

Oops, I guess that was dumb question #2 and #3. Hehe.

Elizabeth Tarney said...

Yeah, if you are acting like an ass you can get arrested. It happened to my friend once. He was mouthing off to some bouncer and the bouncer called the cops. My friend spent the night in the pokey. I was just as drunk as he was, but since I didn't mouth off to anyone, I got to go home in a cab. Excuse me while I adjust my halo :)

acw said...

I think it should be illegal to be Scott Stapp in public.

leesepea said...

*Snort*

I agree with ACW!

Maman said...

Is disorderly involved... I like a good 'drunk AND disorderly' charge... and the police don't stand outside bars because there are too many bars and there are not enough personnel to stand out in front of each and everyone... and if you don't stand in front of everyone, it could be construed as harassment.

Plus of course there is the element of random enforcement... we are all supposed to behave because a cop could come up upon us at any moment...

Mair said...

I think it's sort of a catchall charge to get people to behave. If you're drunk and minding your own business, I don't think you can be arrested. But it's what they use for people who are behaving like, well, Scott Stapp. And who fall asleep on sidewalks and pee their pants.

melissa said...

#2. Realistically speaking the police COULD probably do that, but it's not really ethical or fair. If a group of people comes out of a bar and gets into a cab or a vehicle with a designated driver, there's nothing wrong with what they're doing. They're not "disturbing the peace." (Unless they're acting like a bunch of morons...) I've heard of police targeting areas that have a lot of bars by patrolling extra for drunk drivers. That seems fair because by driving under the influence they ARE breaking the law.

#3. I know that if a bar allows someone to get fall-down drunk on the premises and that person goes out and hits someone with their car, that bar can be held responsible. I know that it's judgement call for a bartender as to whether or not to serve a person. Every person is different, and some people can hold their alcohol while some most definitely can't. It just depends.
*shrugs*