Yes, I think that there were more drunk people out there. However, when the chief of TABC comes out and says: Intuition tells me that they're going after drunk people in general, instead of drunk people who pose a threat to others. You're not going to convince me that the people arrested in the bar of the hotel that they were staying at were posing a threat of driving drunk, which was the TABC's stated reason for arresting these people. All of this, of course, is ignoring the point that arresting people for what they might do is an unjust concept, and I don't see a problem with violating unjust laws.
Nope, it's completely up to the discretion of the officer. They don't even have to prove that you're legally intoxicated (breath/blood/field test). Only way this changes is if someone has the time (and $) to take this way up the legal chain. It's a misdemeanor, and most people would rather pay the couple of hundred dollars & make it go away.
Have you ever been arrested for a P.I.? Doubt it. And to your question: Ask anyone here who's pleaded "not guilty" to a P.I. if their case was dismissed. I guarantee it was. The law itself is too vague to ever stand up in a court of law. That is why if you've ever been arrested for a P.I. they try to railroad you into saying "guilty" in the morning just so you can get out. THE F***ING COP will play psychological warfare on the drunk tank in order to justify the arrests. The Cop will tell you that if you plead "not guilty" you can leave in 30 minutes. If you plead "guilty" you'll be in there for another 24 hours. It is entire bull****, and anyone who agrees with a P.I. being a legitimate reason to arrest someone disgusts me, as well. a P.I. arrest gives cops carte-blanche to arrest anyone, anywhere, anytime, with no reprocussions to the cop. Excuse me while I vomit.
I think this is great as long as they only target the obnixious drunks who are causing trouble. I just hope those out having a good time and getting a slight buzz aren't targeted. It is possible to go out to a bar, have a few drinks and still be responsible.
nother article that basically says same as others from the chron http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3774818.html
