Nebraska has gone nuts. Hats off for the next step to POLICE STATE

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County to run teens in for just looking drunk
Police in Nebraska county no longer need to find a container for prosecution
The Associated Press
Updated: 4:48 p.m. ET April 26, 2006

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. - Whether or not they're holding an alcoholic beverage in their hands, minors who show signs of intoxication are eligible for prosecution under an ordinance that goes into effect next month in Cass County.

Cass County is the first county in Nebraska to allow the prosecution of minors who are "exhibiting the effects of having consumed alcohol" while in a public place or inside a vehicle.

Police do not have to collect alcohol containers from an intoxicated offender in order to prosecute, as is customary under current state law.

The law doesn't apply if the minor is with a parent or guardian or has consumed alcohol in connection with a religious service or for medicine.

Cass County Attorney Nathan Cox said he thoroughly researched his proposal and that it was well-received by local government bodies across the county.

All five county board members supported Cox's initiative, which is modeled after a law in the state of Washington.

"We're letting parents know, 'Hey, step up ... and take responsibility for your children,'" Cox said.

Nebraska law says, "No minor may sell, dispense, consume or have in his or her possession or physical control any alcoholic liquor."

Cass County's ordinance would not change a state provision that allows minors to drink in their own homes.

"This is a very aggressive and up-and-coming county, and I see nothing wrong with us being the first," county commissioner Lou Allgayer of Elmwood said.

Commissioner Bob Clancy of Plattsmouth said he had received a number of calls from constituents in recent months after Cox's proposal was made public.

"It's nothing but total support for it," Clancy said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12500110/
 
I'll agree that this law: "No minor may sell, dispense, consume or have in his or her possession or physical control any alcoholic liquor" would seem to make the ordinance in question redundant. On the other hand, I fail to see how the new ordinance will lead to a police state.

Tim
 
I got a feeling that the county is going to be sorry for passing that law.....

what do you do if your an officer and every teenager in a public place acts like he is under the effects of alcohol..lol
 
Police do not have to collect alcohol containers from an intoxicated offender in order to prosecute, as is customary under current state law.
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Do police have to collect alcohol containers from drunk drivers or drunk and disorderly suspects?
No, then why should teens illegally consuming alcohol be afforded that consideration?

exhibiting the effects of having consumed alcohol"
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what are the chances that they are referring to a field sobriety test such as those customarily required of drunk drivers or others who have consumed alcohol illegally or have acted illegally due to their consumption of alcohol?

More hype about Nazis and Police states.
Is this all that the state haters can come up with?
 
What if the person is diabetic and has let their blood sugar get a little off? Police detain this person and deny them Insulin or sugar because they thing they are "just making it up to get out". I have Co-Workers who check their blood sugar religiously and even they can have times where it goes crazy and they appear drunk because their blood sugar isn't right. A shot of Insulin or a Mountain Dew will fix them up, but if they are cuffed up in a cop car, who knows what will happen to them.
 
What is the crime?

What is the crime minors would be charged with? Consuming alcohol? if so, then the state (or county in this case) would have to prove consumption (breathalyser, blood test) correct?

If the crime is "exibiting the effects of having consumed alcohol", what does the state have to prove? Acting goofy? Slurred speech?, lack of motor coordination?

If I remember correctly, all these things are common among teenagers WITHOUT consuming any mind altering substances!:D

Teens frequently "act goofy". Is this now to be a crime?
 
So, just to be clear, it is now possable to be arrested based on the cops opinion of your stance, wording, and demeanor, without you actually commiting a crime? Please tell me they still have to give a breathalizer or SOMETHING! Surely we have not come to the point where a person can be arrested for "seeming" like a criminal. This is VERY, VERY DISTURBING. It is literally giving the state power to go out and "round up the undesirables" and throw them in jail. Whats next? Feds running around collecting the "Political extremists" who disagree with the fuhrer(president).
 
I'm sure the police are still going to have to establish probable cause and consider the totality of their observations which includes a breath test before dinging someone for minor consuming or being intoxicated.
You don't have to gather empty containers to support your charge if observations of all the other signs and symtoms have been made.
 
I wonder how many types of dope, if consumed, would make one appear to be "exhibiting the effects of having consumed alcohol?" Seems like there wouldn't be any beer cans lying around after such consumption either. Could this be the underlying cause? It's hard to tell from the article.
 
Yes, this next story is true.

Omaha, Nebraska. Either Fall of 1980 or Spring of 1981.
A young man is pulled over for a traffic violation. The young man is deaf but not completely dumb. He can articulate words but the speech sounds slurred and broken.

PO is suspisious and ask the young man to step out of his vehicle. This young man stands 6' tall and weighs 275 lbs. He plays offensive guard for the State Champion football team Westside high school where he is a senior. The po gives orders to the young man but the young man is having a hard time understanding the po.

The po becomes angry and frustarted and pulls out his nightstick. The po continues to yell orders. The young man states that he does not understand what the po wants. He is confused. The po hits the young man in the stomach with the night stick.

The young man grabs the stick away from the officer and states that he does not understand. Because his adrenaline is rushing his words become more mixed up and distorted to the officer. The po is scared and calls for back-up. The young man is arrested and "thumped" a little. Then later released. The po is placed on corrective action for striking a deaf and dumb senior who is a 4.0 gpa student and starter on the state champion football team. The city offers to settle out of court. The family of the young man decline. They are not looking for a free handout....just some understanding and patience.

End of story.

I think that po's need to exercise DISCRETION at times. Always remain a professional.
 
Why wouldn't a deaf person who is at least 17 years old and obviously intelligent not tell the officer that he is deaf?
Surely it must have come up some time previously in his life.

Understanding should usually work both ways
 
Why wouldn't a deaf person who is at least 17 years old and obviously intelligent not tell the officer that he is deaf?

Ever tell someone something important and they don't pay attention? Same thing happens with cops.
 
joab, it looks like the LEO was amped on adrenaline and/or testosterone. Besides, cops don't like being told they're wrong, even in the most polite terms possible.
 
Police do not have to collect alcohol containers from an intoxicated offender in order to prosecute, as is customary under current state law.
Click to expand...
Bad thing.
"We're letting parents know, 'Hey, step up ... and take responsibility for your children,'" Cox said.
Click to expand...
Good thing.
 
last time I looked drunk teens were responsible for thousands of deaths each year on our streets
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Read the article again. It's not about arresting teens who ARE drunk, it's about arresting teens who LOOK drunk. Slight difference, yes? :rolleyes:
 
it's about arresting teens who LOOK drunk. Slight difference, yes?
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read it again it's about teens who are "exhibiting the effects of having consumed alcohol" while in a public place or inside a vehicle.

Big difference, yes?
 
Yeah, BIG difference.

Free clue in semantics, dude: "Exhibiting the effects of having consumed alcohol" = "Looks drunk."
 
Free clue to reading comprehension, sport
Exhibits signs, as in
Slurred speech, odor of alcohol, lack of coordination to name a few of the possible exhibited signs
 
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