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Wronguy

Registered: 03/05/05
Posts: 4,450
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
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New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX]
#7816525 - 12/31/07 10:14 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20071231/NEWS03/656022058
New Marijuana Law Not Catching On
DALLAS (AP) -- Many Texans busted for misdemeanor marijuana possession are still being jailed despite a new state law that allows police to issue a citation instead of making an arrest, according to a newspaper report.
Texas lawmakers hoped to ease jail crowding with the new legislation, which took effect Sept. 1, but some local prosecutors worry what message getting a mere ticket for pot might send.
"It may...lead some people to believe that drug use is no more serious than double parking," Collin County prosecutor Greg Davis said in Tuesday's editions of The Dallas Morning News.
The Travis County Sheriff's Department is the only law enforcement agency in the state known to be taking advantage of the new legislation, according to the newspaper.
Prosecutors in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties said they have no plans to set up a system dealing with citations for misdemeanor possession, which is less than 4 ounces of marijuana.
In addition to easing crowding, the new law would also theoretically keep officers on the street instead of making runs to jail for nonviolent offenders.
The Dallas County Jail has a history of being understaffed and crowded, which has led, in part, to repeated failed state inspections.
But Dallas County officials worry that because the misdemeanors could still result in a case for prosecution, citations raise issues like making sure suspects appear in court and that no one is misidentified.
"These are not just tickets. These are crimes that need to be appropriately dealt with," said Ron Stretcher, Dallas County's director of criminal justice. "We want to make sure we get them back to court to stand trial."
State Rep. Jerry Madden, a Plano Republican whose district includes Collin County, said it's likely that some counties are taking a wait-and-see approach, looking for someone to lead the way.
Travis County sheriff's spokesman Roger Wade said his department lobbied for the new law to help ease jail crowding and increase efficiency.
Issuing citations also helps save the department save gas by not driving suspects from the county's outlying areas to the jail in Austin, he said.
"We are still hard on crime," Wade said. "We believe if we can save resources and have the same affect on crime, then we should take advantage of this."
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Skeeblix
Dave Thomas



Registered: 01/28/07
Posts: 1,745
Loc: Wendy's
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: Wronguy]
#7816544 - 12/31/07 10:23 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
"These are not just tickets. These are crimes that need to be appropriately dealt with," said Ron Stretcher, Dallas County's director of criminal justice. "We want to make sure we get them back to court to stand trial."
God, you asshole, the only reason it's still a major crime is because you insist on making it one.
You fucking pigs won't follow new legislation and insist on being pricks "becuz drugz r bad".
Fucking redneck Dallas cops need to pull their fucking heads out of their shitboxes and take a look around. Pot's been around for thousands of years. It's not going anywhere anytime soon, and it's certainly not going to be the undoing of modern society. That's the government's job.
-------------------- This post approved by:
Premedman1 said:
I just shat my pants.
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ShroomDoom
Friend of the Medicine



Registered: 06/07/04
Posts: 4,435
Loc: A Psychedelic State
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: Wronguy]
#7816569 - 12/31/07 10:31 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
The Travis County Sheriff's Department is the only law enforcement agency in the state known to be taking advantage of the new legislation, according to the newspaper.
fuck it. im moving to austin. whos with me?
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2859558484
Growery is Better



Registered: 01/10/06
Posts: 8,752
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: ShroomDoom]
#7816601 - 12/31/07 10:46 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
The Travis County Sheriff's Department is the only law enforcement agency in the state known to be taking advantage of the new legislation, according to the newspaper.
hell yea mothafucka
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Nephlyte
Misfortunate One


Registered: 10/11/05
Posts: 1,025
Loc: South Texas
Last seen: 13 years, 5 months
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: 2859558484]
#7817633 - 12/31/07 04:04 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ya, unfortunately it going to take a county by county grass roots sort of thing to get this law in use.
Since we don't educate a lot of people here, we're left with a bunch of rednecks who don't think its wrong to shoot an illegal, and that drug users should be lynched.
-------------------- "To do right is to know what you want. Now when you are dissatisfied with yourself it's because you are after something you don't really want. What objects are you proposing to yourself? Are they the objects you really value? If they are not, you are cheating yourself. I don't meant that if you chose to pursue the objects you most value, you will attain them; of course not. Your experience will tell you that. But success in getting after much labor what you really don't care for is the bitterest and most ridiculous failure." -George Santayana
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KaptKid
Spaced Pirate



Registered: 12/11/03
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: Nephlyte]
#7818500 - 12/31/07 09:53 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Nephlyte said: Since we don't educate a lot of people here, we're left with a bunch of rednecks who don't think its wrong to shoot an illegal, and that drug users should be lynched.
Been that way since before the 50's.Forensics science is probably the only reason cops get caught for shooting people(in the back sometimes).
-------------------- Child of the 60's, Tripping ever since.
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implee
Cyber Hippie


Registered: 07/27/06
Posts: 5,833
Loc: Houston, Texas.
Last seen: 5 months, 19 days
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: Nephlyte]
#7818959 - 01/01/08 02:25 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Nephlyte said: ...we're left with a bunch of rednecks who don't think its wrong to shoot an illegal....
If your referring to joe horn then your a moron. I think its ok to shoot/kill people stealing you or your neighbors property.
He didnt know they were immigrants, he didnt think they were. He killed them assuming they were shitty American thieves.
And quite frankly i think the idea of being killing makes quite a bit of potential burglars think twice. Anyone can goto jail for a while and run out on bail, but once your dead your dead.
But on topic with the story, cops here still chose whats what... Sometimes when you have below 10$'s worth which is like uhh... 1/4 an ounce a cop will give you a paraphernalia charge (given you were a nice young man, who said yes sir no sir and complied with all their requests)
Edited by implee (01/01/08 10:24 PM)
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Nebula
Stranger


Registered: 10/22/07
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: implee]
#7832856 - 01/04/08 05:45 PM (16 years, 28 days ago) |
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Quote:
implee said:I think its ok to shoot/kill people stealing you or your neighbors property.
And who do you think you are? A judge?
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Maverick
Lover of Earwigs!




Registered: 12/18/05
Posts: 13,437
Loc: Valleys of Willamette
Last seen: 1 day, 2 hours
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Re: New Marijuana Law Not Catching On [TX] [Re: implee]
#7832905 - 01/04/08 06:01 PM (16 years, 28 days ago) |
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Quote:
implee said:
Quote:
Nephlyte said:
But on topic with the story, cops here still chose whats what... Sometimes when you have below 10$'s worth which is like uhh... 1/4 an ounce a cop will give you a paraphernalia charge (given you were a nice young man, who said yes sir no sir and complied with all their requests)
Eh a fourth of an 8th you mean? A quarter ounce is usually a bit more. :P
I dunno, I've seen cops not even ask for weed when they see it, they just mention to put it away. I couldn't imagine getting arrested for it. Of course it wasn't me who was in danger of getting arrested when i saw it happen.
Edited by DRTMaverick (01/04/08 06:03 PM)
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