Articles Posted in Uncategorized

Pushingback.com, the government’s official Prohibition propoganda site, is bragging about a recent rise in the price of meth. Allegedly, the street price of meth is up 73% since January.

It is unfortunate that all the gains in the price of meth are going to Mexican drug cartels. Prohibition creates a great reliable income and retirement for drug lords.

Our government is doing a great job ensuring windfall profits for organized criminals. We have given them a monopoly on the American meth market and outsourced production through a misguided ban on over the counter sudafed.

Austin American Statesman Calls

It looks like the print media is picking up on the Austin Energy story. A reporter called to confirm IWTS was my blog. That was it. No interview, but with a blog I guess I’m really not needed for quotes.

Prop 13 passes- No Bail For Family Violence

News 8 Austin has picked up on the warrantless surveillance story. The media is going to the wonderful Debbie Russell of Texas ACLU for quotes (I’m not that hard to find guys). Here is what Debbie has to say-

“They have full access to the database and the question is, how are they using

it?” Debbie Russell with the American Civil Liberties Union said. “They could have an 85-year-old lady growing African violets or something completely different, medical machines. It’s a waste of resources,” Russell said.

Here are some more embarassing statements from Austin PD.

I can now confirm that Austin Police have access to Austin Energy customer usage information. The City of Austin, in response to my open records request, turned over an agreement titled “Utility Database Confidentiality Agreement.” This agreement gives Austin PD the right to search Austin Energy customer information without a warrant.

Here is the history. I received an email from the NORML listserv. An Austin resident was concerned the police were using customer information from Austin Energy. Allegedly, Austin PD was using electricity bills to get search warrants for marijuana grow operations. I, along with ACLU Texas, filed open information requests to confirm this story.

The City of Austin withheld further information pending an AG opinion. For those who are not familiar with Open Records requests, Attorney General Opinions are often sought to delay releasing information.

Grits for Breakfast is hitting daily home runs. The pace and strength of GFB copy puts most blogs to shame. I can not understand why Scott Henson is not writing for a major media outlet. He inspires this blog on a regular basis. I should retitle IWTS “Grits for Lunch.”

GFB posted recently on the economic forces behind plea bargains. His conclusion is that traditional negotiation models do not apply. Especially in cases where the defendant is in jail.

In my career I prosecuted mainly misdemeanors. In East Texas every Friday I had jail docket. We had a nice space in the jail where the prisoners could meet with us and we could “plea bargain.” Most of the defendant’s had attorneys. If not, they would sign a waiver. These defendants had been in jail anywhere from 14 to 30 days.

Client interviews are an important part of criminal defense work. When I first meet a potential client I spend a good amount of time going over the events that led to arrest. Police reports are only going to tell me that some cop thinks my client is guilty. I want to know my client experienced.

I always tell my client’s that I do not care what they did or did not do, if they use or sell drugs, drink and drive, write bad checks etc. I only care that they answer my questions honestly. Proper defense work requires some degree of attorney client-cooperation.

When I was a public defender I noticed that defendants had a hard time opening up. I blamed this on the fact that the defendants saw a public defender as another government employee. That as a public defender I was part of the system or working with the State.

I got a call from a “State Trooper Benevolence” association asking for donations. They told me that for my donation I would get a sticker that identified myself as a supporter of state troopers.

First of all, as a Texas taxpayer and occasional speeding driver I already support the State Troopers. I should have dozens of stickers by now. Second, the idea behind the sticker is that you expect the police to let you go for speeding. The only way to get out of tickets is to be a trooper.

I need to start a telephone campaign for the wrongfully convicted, or for victims of Cannabis Prohibition. Unfortunately no one would want that sticker. A bumper sticker for the “Victims of Cannabis Prohibition” would probably be considered probable cause to search.

To see how Prohibition makes you less safe take the IWTS prohibition inmate challenge.

1. Go to the Texas Offender Information Website.

2. Type in a common name, or your name.

I recently filed an open records request with the Wylie Police Department.. I asked for any and all training materials for DWI and Speeding enforcement, including any local procedures used by Wylie PD.

Like many government agencies the Wylie PD has chosen to stonewall my efforts and requested an Attorney General Opinion. No surprise there.

Here is the reason given by the Wylie Police Chief- Jeff Butters.

I posted earlier on a possible deal between Austin Energy and Austin Police. Allegedly Austin Energy was providing electricity bills to the Austin Police. Austin PD was allegedly using this information to hunt for marijuan grow houses.

I could not confirm this story. ACLU of Texas sent an open records request to Austin Energy to find out if there is any truth to this rumor. I have sent a similar request to Austin PD.

ACLU Texas is an important force in the war on Prohibition. I’m glad they are investigating this story.