Zero Tolerance = Zero Brain

In the greater Toronto area, residents can always count on the heroic feats of the DRAVIS police squad. The acronym stands for Durham Region Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy. The squad's website says the officers' goal is to "reduce violence, increase community safety and improve the quality of life for members of our communities."

So here's how they accomplish that. They routinely cruise around at night looking for people who stand outside bars waiting for a taxi service. If the car that shows up happens to be from a known designated-driver service, that's prima facie evidence of "public intoxication," which then provokes — bingo! — a $65 fine. Most recipients of a ticket are not accused of disturbing the peace, and most have spotless or near-spotless records.

The citations are part of the authorities' zero-tolerance approach to law enforcement. Never mind that the outcome is that people who indubitably do the right thing end up getting busted, thus increasing the likelihood that next time, they'll just take a chance and get behind the wheel.

The police don't see it that way. Intones Inspector Charlie Green, "It's not a mixed message. You can't be intoxicated in a public place. It's an offense."

In a just world, it would also be an offense to wear a badge without possessing a brain to go with it.

Comments

[Windypundit]

Hey, at least they're waiting until they leave the bars to arrest them for public intoxication. Some cops aren't so tolerant: http://www.windypundit.com/archives/2006/03/the_dumbest_man_in_texas.html

[Rogier]

Yeah, I know about that, and it's even MORE inexcusable, but at least the program was suspended pretty quickly: http://www.bakelblog.com/nobodys_business/2006/04/outofcontrol_bo.html

[Sylvia]

See, the answer is to just stay off the booze and drink healthy things like milk!

Or... maybe not:
Missouri government plots undercover sting operations against families selling raw milk (http://www.naturalnews.com/027675_raw_milk_Missouri.html)

[Don]

The real answer is to grow some balls and shoot any accosters right in the face instantly and if they are state owned thugs shoot them again.

As the word gets out that thugs are being vanquished nationwide less thuggery will occur.

Let thugs have their way and they will multiply exponentially.

[GreginOz]

But, of course, the Kennedy Klan's moolah came from bootlegging, how ironic. Perhaps we should all just drink moonshine at home...oops, no, then, when THEY came, they'd shoot the dog too...Fuck it, I'll just get stoned instead;-)