In the last couple of weeks I've had several people tell me they had been arrested for drunk in public in Blacksburg, Virginia. All of them were walking home late at night, alone, seemingly being responsible by not drinking and driving. A police officer driving by stopped and inquired if the person had been drinking and then arrested them for drunk in public. This piqued my interest as to why would someone walking home minding their own business get arrested for drunk in public. All said they were not stumbling in the street or misbehaving. Then I ran across this article from the Collegiate Times in 2004. It seems the Town of Blacksburg can collect the money from the fine for drunk in public. I guess the local police are instructed to collect some taxes for the good of the town when they are having a slow night. I understand that people who are obnoxiously drunk in public or a danger to themselves or others should be arrested. The problem with the charge is that it'
My rants and raves on various subjects.