Dallas Texas: Chief of Police Admits Tickets Over Incarceration Is "just so damn practical”

Discussion in 'Marijuana News' started by jainaG, Dec 14, 2015.

  1. http://www.marijuana.com/blog/news/2015/12/dallas-texas-chief-of-police-admits-tickets-over-incarceration-is-just-so-damn-practical/




    By
    \t\t\tMonterey Bud on\t\t\tDecember 9, 2015
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    \t\tMarijuana News
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    \tThe Dallas City Council and local Police Chief are pondering the
    cultivation of a much-needed pilot program – similar to the cite and
    release program scheduled to roll out in the Houston area on January 1, 2016 – Dallas police would instead issue citations to individuals busted with a small amount of cannabis.

    Dallas Texas: Chief of Police Admits Tickets Over Incarceration Is "just so damn practical”


    Currently in the soaked and saturated state of Texas, getting caught in possession
    of 2 ounces or less of marijuana is punishable by up to 180 days in
    jail and a fine of $2000. Despite these overtly severe penalties, Police
    Chief David Brown claims to be conflicted over the idea of giving his
    police force the green light to write tickets in lieu of throwing people
    in jail, simply for getting caught with their personal stash.

    Conflicted but not dumb, Chief Brown said Tuesday, the new program is "just so damn practical.”

    Firing up the topic for debate at the Tuesday night meeting of the
    Dallas City Council"s Public Safety Committee, police officials and
    council members deliberated the virtues of a "cite and release” pilot
    program.

    Fortunately for those recreational pot smokers residing in the Dallas
    area, the city council"s committee voted in favor of referring the cite
    and release program to the full council – minus any type of
    recommendation.

    Texas passed a law in 2007 that allows the various police departments
    located around the state to issue marijuana citations, rather than
    incarcerating someone for the simple possession of minor amounts of
    marijuana. Keeping its citizens productive and free, this new policy
    would provide more jail space for real offenders and would allow the
    police to spend more time patrolling the streets.

    Unfortunately for all, according to online reports this new policy would "not change the crime"s penalty.”

    Spurred on by its depleted staff, the cite and release topic was
    sparked by a police presentation regarding struggles with 911 call
    response times; Chief Brown noted his police force is under-staffed and
    its officers overworked.

    Hoping to refocus the police on higher priority crimes, Council
    member Philip Kingston said utilizing a cite and release program is a
    "no brainer.” One that could help improve 911 response times.

    Comparing marijuana possession to jaywalking, Kingston noted he"d legalize marijuana in a heartbeat…if it were up to him.

    Per the proposed pilot program, those individuals caught with marijuana
    would be given a summons to appear in court on a specific date.
    Provided they fail to appear before the judge on the designated date, a
    court ordered arrest warrant would then be issued.
     

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