A Step Toward Decriminalization

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pending Texas Law Gives Cops Discretion In Minor Pot Cases[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]July 5, 2007 - Austin, TX, USA

Austin, TX: Legislation that will go into effect in September grants police the option of issuing citations to minor marijuana offenders in lieu of making a criminal arrest. The new law was passed by the legislature to reduce criminal justice costs associated with the prosecution of certain misdemeanor crimes.
Under House Bill 2391, law enforcement will have the discretion to issue a citation mandating local individuals who commit specific Class A and/or Class B misdemeanor crimes to appear in court. An arrest warrant will be issued for defendants who fail to appear in court by the date specified in the citation.
Under Texas law, possession of up to four ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to one-year in jail a fine of up to $4,000. Individuals who sell less than one-quarter ounce of cannabis are also guilty of a misdemeanor. The possession and/or sale of larger quantities of cannabis are felony offenses.
According to US FBI data, approximately 95 percent of all marijuana arrests in Texas are for misdemeanor possession.
House Bill 2391 goes into effect on September 1, 2007.

-From NORMLs website. It's a step.
[/FONT]

They are just folowing states like California that have made minor possession a ticket instead of arrest/booking due to overcrowded jails.I don't think it is due to a changing attitude or diminishing " contempt " for marijuana , just too many folks in jail and not enough beds.Still good for the ppl in that area though.

it's very good. it's a change in attitude that i didn't think the good ol bible thumping southland would have. baby steps...

fuck yes!!! cuz umm... i may or may not live in texas

police really already had the option to let you off free here in houston. i've gotten pulled over with marijuana twice and two different cops let me go.

my friend even ran a cop car off the road while smoking a blunt and the cop let him leave (her car was in the ditch on the side of the road!)

Can you tell the people are speaking out? There are so many arrests for something minor it makes the crime/drug rate is very high. Makes the govt look bad so they just quit making so many arrests.

im in a smaller city in la county and if they dont just take it for themselves they throw it out,or if the copper is in a fucked up mood its rare u get a ticket.unless its over the oz.but on the flip side there r rookies or die hard cops that will make a front page story out of a joint.the jails r over crowded but i guess its all on your luck that day,really...

I got to go to the NOMAl party about the law taking affect but like i told them all it does is open discrimination to the officer because it's still up to them to take you or not......but hey I'm happy i don't have to worry

You would be wise to check what Texas LEO have to say about it. No way are they not going to arrest you if you have a quarter pound of weed, they are going to put you in jail. VV

Heres what else TX had to say...(which came out in the NORML weekly email)

Many Texas law enforcement personnel say that they will continue to arrest and jail minor pot offenders, despite the enactment of a new state lawgranting police the option of issuing a citation in lieu of making an arrest.
"Marijuana is an introduction to more dangerous drugs and we are going to keep fighting drug use of any kind as long as I am in office," Lamar County Sheriff B.J. McCoy told news outlets this week. "They are going to jail no matter how much they’ve got."
Numerous district attorneys and police throughout Texas have issued similar statements. By contrast, law enforcement in Travis County and in the city of Austin have said that they will comply with the new law – which is intended to reduce jail overcrowding.



Having lived in TX before I can tell you that there is NO WAY a LEO is going to walk away from an arrest when someone has a QP in their possesion...sounds good on paper but feels more like one step forward and two steps back to me

i shit you not i "went out" with B.low J.ob McCoys daughter!!! thats some funny shit. small world and all
P.S.
shes a bad lay

thats right, austin WILL comply, quick everyone flock to austin

Man that really fuckin' sucks, I live in the Liberty area...Dont know tho. My buddy Jesse had a full pound on him and only got a year's worth of probation and community service -_-;

Guys... it's a citation. All it means is they write you up instead of "taking you down to the station" and you still have to go appear in court and the sentencing will more or less be the same. So... yeah it's a step forward, but unfortanatly we still gatta be careful in austin. Anyone from that area?

north houston right here and i know that most if not all cops will be choosing not to enforce this. i had a friend get busted for a fucking seed in his center console last week.