Wolfie

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:31:56 -0600

The word on the street is Williamson County is worse. I had a law abiding (aside from this and jaywalking) roommate who was jailed for not having a back license plate-blocks from home.

TheTodd

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:09:21 -0600

Tim: You are certainly correct that an officer having a certain amount of discretion in arrests allows them the freedom they need to uphold public safety. However...the problem and question is how they are using this discretion. Are they really just jailing known criminals or are they going by the letter of the law to indiscriminately haul in the good citizens with the bad? Seeing as how I was a recent guest at one of their charming overnight facilities I can tell you that this article is right on and changes are needed. After all, did I really need to go downtown and spend the night because of clerical issues with my license...do I fit the "habitual criminal" mold (I assure you I do not.) If a citation only had been issued I would have been responsible to my offense in the same way just without the officer spending 5 hours processing me and without all the drama and inconvenience of my personal experience. In short...an officer having some leeway to do their job is one thing but if they are abusing it then they need to be reigned in. Sad that we are having to police the police but this is nothing new.

tim

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:51:21 -0600

There is another side to this, however. I know at least in my neighborhood the police use these minor infractions to get known criminals off the streets. It's far easier to arrest a known prostitute or drug dealer for loitering than it is to actual catch then in the act of soliciting.

Austinist: Citation Needed!

Wolfie

TheTodd

tim