TABC enforcement has been criticized as heavy-handed

12:00 AM CST on Thursday, March 30, 2006

By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – On the first day they're back in town, lawmakers will conduct a hearing about recent public intoxication arrests in bars.

"Oh my gosh. I've gotten a lot of e-mails and a lot of phone calls," said state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, the vice chairman of the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.

"We want to take drunk drivers off the street; I totally agree with that," he said, adding that he wants to make sure the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has been using consistent, reasonable enforcement measures.

Rep. Kino Flores, the Mission Democrat who leads the committee, called the April 17 meeting after news reports describing how stepped-up enforcement has included arrests of people in bars, when officers determined they posed a danger to themselves or others. That included at least one person arrested in the bar of the Irving hotel where he was staying.

The House is convening for a special session on education funding. The meeting is scheduled for either 2 p.m. or the adjournment of the House, whichever comes later.

E-mail pslover@dallasnews.com