Cops not Obeying new Laws in Texas

[leafy]

New marijuana law not catching on with local authorities Dec. 31, 2007, 9:47AM

 

© 2007 The Associated Press

 

DALLAS — 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."

[Budman2012]

Heheh , 4oz. ? .. cool , yeah just walkin up the street with 4 Ounces of 'Perso'

No worries ..

But maybe if they made it more like 1/4 of an ounce on your person (which is reasonable) .. It would sway some of the cynics .. and then again , maybe not ..

 

"It may...lead some people to believe that drug use is no more serious than double parking," .. - No doubt , double parking Kills!!! .. Ha! ..

 

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". .. - No doubt .. Some "Countries" too .. Lets hope we see some real leadership on the issue in the near future

 

The whole Canna-Political issue seems to be hitting somewhat of a double-sided wall (?) at the moment .. Sooner or later we're gonna see some cracks .. and slowly all thought on the matter will become unified in chaos .. as it's meant to be

 

i.e. .. AUstralia : EMbraces Cannabis as It's own .. The Little Big Cuntry that could .. HEMP for the future , and THC for Victory! .. hahahah .. Future! Future! read all about it! .. Come out of your Bunkers the War has resided!

 

Aw man , We've seen better days , and so we shall again .. Freedom lurks near

 

May you rest in neverending fields of Ganja ahhh ...

 

Budman

[elbhar]

another stupid copout.

they decriminalise it then a few years later change law again and make it even harsher.

Look at South Australia. Up untill 1999 you got a fine for up to 10 plants. Now you cant even grow one under lights and you go to court.

[Indycar]

The whole Canna-Political issue seems to be hitting somewhat of a double-sided wall (?) at the moment .. Sooner or later we're gonna see some cracks .. and slowly all thought on the matter will become unified in chaos .. as it's meant to be

 

i.e. .. AUstralia : EMbraces Cannabis as It's own .. The Little Big Cuntry that could .. HEMP for the future , and THC for Victory! .. hahahah .. Future! Future! read all about it! .. Come out of your Bunkers the War has resided!

 

Aw man , We've seen better days , and so we shall again .. Freedom lurks near

 

May you rest in neverending fields of Ganja ahhh ...

 

Budman

 

I'd like to be thinkin' along your lines Bman. But until we rid Australia (or the Senate) of the Family First political party, i doubt much will ever change. They're nothing' but a bunch of hysterical control freaks hiding behind the Christian banner, with their own evil agenda's.