TABC Stings Temporarily Suspended Options

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State suspends public intoxication stings

The state's alcohol authorities have put a temporary halt to the arrests of drunks in Texas bars.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Administrator Alan Steen notified a legislative committee this week that the agency is suspending the controversial program known as Operation Last Call for further review.

"I still feel strongly that this is a sound program with positive implications,'' Steen wrote in Tuesday letter to state Rep. Ismael "Kino'' Flores, chairman of the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures. ``However, I have asked our Enforcement Division to delay these operations until the hearing before your committee next week.''

The decision came two days after the Houston Chronicle reported that more than two-thirds of 1,740 arrests for public intoxication in Texas bars occurred in small towns with populations 150,000 or less.

TABC stepped up arrests last September at the request of lawmakers, who approved funding for 120 new staffers including 59 new agents. By arresting more drunks in bars, the agency had hoped to reduce the number of drunken drivers on Texas roads.

Each year, about 1,600 people are killed by drunk drivers in Texas, TABC reports.

Steen wrote that he will recommend to the agency's commissioners on Monday that TABC "take a few steps back to re-evaluate the program beyond that date.''

TABC spokeswoman Carolyn Beck said the suspension will give the agency time to complete its own internal investigation of the program and evaluate criticism of the program.

"We feel like it's in everbody's best interest,'' she said.

[Guest_CANNONBALL_*]

yeah...that was classy...