Do you think that police officers should be allowed to sit outside of bars to reduce alcohol related crashes?

Question

I know all about entrapment, and constitutional rights, so please don't harp on me about that. I was just curious what the general consensous was.

Answer 1

I think it's an excellent idea. There are way too many drunk drivers out there. I think the one thing that is saving my town is the fact that there are officers patrolling the parking lots on The Strip, where 90% of our bars are.

Answer 2

I don't really think sitting right outside the bar would be appreciated by very many including the owners of the bar. However I do feel that police officers should pay closer attention to people leaving bars and really watching for the tell-tale signs of having to much to drink then driving. Police have a job to do and that job entales arresting idiotic drunk drivers before they have a chance to kill themselves or someone else. I can see where that could be a very touchy subject for some but as far as I'm concerned I wish there was a way to tell how much someone has had to drink just by looking at them.

Answer 3

I think that police officers should be allowed to sit anywhere in public they want to that they hope will have an effect on crime. If sitting outside of bars would reduce auto crashes, then it's a good thing. I like it when I see the police wandering all over. They don't bother me and it's good for evil-doers to have to wonder where the cops might show up next.

Answer 4

Yes, this would eliminate the dumbass whos had too many and wants to drive himself home. What are you more worried about, the alcohol related crashes or the cop outside the bar? Seems like a small price to pay.
But if the cop is harassing you then that would be a complete different matter.

Answer 5

Not a matter of entrapment, but of legality of procedure. The cop must have probable cause to stop a DUI suspect, the magic word being DRIVING. meaning their driving had to be somehow eratic. The cop in question can get in a world of hurt if some concerned citizens video tape him waiting in ambush outside a tavern then give the tape to one of his "victims" that blew below the legal limit. How far do you want our rapidly growing police styate to extend... Constitution notwithstanding? How about placing him IN the Tavern with his funny (notoriously inaccurate) little whistle? Where will it end?

Answer 6

What does entrapment have to do with it? Entrapment would imply that the police forced you to drink to the point of intoxication and then forced you to drive while intoxicated.

If you get busted for drunk driving because a cop was sitting in his cruiser outside a bar and followed you home, you're not a victim of entrapment; you're a victim of your own stupidity.

Answer 7

I think that a device that would shut off ignitions on autos where the occupant of the driver's seat has too much alcohol on his breath would be more effective. It would also make for less arbitrary enforcement. In addition, police officers could be dispatched to do other police work. Therefore, my answer is no, unless there is a particularly troubling alcohol establishment where definitive enforcement is necessary.

Answer 8

I alwayse wondered about that too. I take a cab or walk. But I think it would be a better idea. That way things would get nipped in the bud. And alot of misfortunes prevented. I just think cars should be a detection device so they wont start if someone is beyond the limit. But I guess it would be bad for business on the justice systems part?

Answer 9

Well, that's not entrapment, but local businesses and cities don't like it because it reduces tax income for the city and state because people won't go to the bar if a cop is sitting outside arresting people. It isn't disallowed, just discouraged.

Answer 10

They do allready thats how they just got Mike Tyson and yes they should but they could also drive by every hour or so and take note of cars that have been there a while and get um down the road.Also would be a better place for them to spend thier time than the donut shop.