Cass County Attorney Overreaching on Underage Drinking

According to this Omaha World Herald article, Cass County Attorney Nathan Cox is attempting to crack down on underage drinking by seeking the ability to arrest anyone under 21 showing "evidence of recent consumption," regardless of whether the person has alcohol on the breath. Such evidence would include problems with "speech, manner, appearance, behavior, lack of coordination" and other "symptoms" that ONLY occur if you've been drinking.

Right.

Tell that to diabetics, who frequently appear to be intoxicated when their blood sugar is low. Oh, and don't let your teens go outside if they have been up all night cramming for finals. You don't want their blood-shot eyes and slight level of disorientation from lack of sleep to get them hauled to jail.

See, Cox's proposal does not involve a determination that the kids have actually INGESTED alcohol, but only that they exhibit the symptoms of having done so. You can't do that with drunk drivers. A cop may be able to pull someone over for what appears to be driving under the influence, but the cop still has to administer a breath and blood test. Cox apparantly doesn't think that's necessary.

I can't wait to see how this plays out.