I am not making exuses for Mr. McMullen, just stating my opinion, since I attend the concerts on a regular basis. Refusing to take an additional breath analyzer is Mr. McMullen's right. If Willie B, God rest his soul, had been stopped the same night, we would not be reading and commenting about it here.

A practical consideration is that by the time the police officer requests a sample of your breath or blood you are already under arrest. Even if you pass the test you will go to jail. After all the police will not "un-arrest" you. Instead, the State will say that because the test was taken some time after the time of driving your alcohol concentration at the time of driving was higher than at the time of the test and that you have simply had time to "sober up." The State will also argue that even if your alcohol concentration was not above the legal limit, you had lost the normal use of your mental and physical faculties as the result of alcohol consumption.

I agree with the poster who suggested a designated driver. Great advice to follow.

I'm certain he was "hand" picked for his offense, but if that was because officers recognized him, somebody complained to them about him, or if it was because the chief asked them to keep an eye on him, nobody will probably ever know for sure.

In any case, he DID break the law, plain and simple. Nobody forced alcohol down his throat, nobody held a gun to his head forcing him on his golf cart. All the bloggers crying foul now, are probably the same people who get all huffy and puffy if they get pulled over for speeding on 285/85/75: "Why are you pulling me over? Everybody else is doing it, too!"

Especially as a public official in a fairly high profile job in this city, he did know better and should have held himself to a higher standard!

According to the chart listed earlier, he had at least five drinks, that's about 4 too many to still be driving in my book.

If he was at the concert in any official capacity, he should loose his job. If he wasn't, let him keep his job and get over it. Plain and simple.

No Matter how you look at it. Drinking and driving is against the law. For every alcholic drink you drink and get behind any vehicle you are putting your self and others at risk. There are LAWS in this country and some seem to think NO matter who you are you don't have to obey them! It is a shame the PD can't sit at all Bars and Restaurants and arrest those who choose to get behind the wheel of any vehicle, Golf Cart or whatever. Yes, there was drinking at the Ampitheatre, but hopefully most of them were SMART enough to have designated drivers. My theory is STUPID SHOULD HURT. We don't expect our higher ups to disobey the law. Have any of you thought that the PD just happened to know this man, duh, and just happened to talk to or recognized him and noticed he had an open container? Lets congratulate the PD for standing there ground. Wouldn't it be worse if they just ignored the facts?

Can't you drunk and desparate PTC housewives just stay at home and drink? It wasn't .01 it was .10 big difference, even if you have two martinis with breakfast everyday. Even your liver would have a hard time keeping up with that. Snap out of it!!

Leaving us with the opinion you shouldn't drink when you post either.

he WAS treated differently because Murray is out to get him. While dozens of other golf carts with tipsy drivers passed on by, they turned a blind eye to the others. Murray used to bully the former City Manager, but this one is all business and Murray cannot scare him. So he is going to get him another way. Murray needs to go. His gestapo tactics are becoming alarming. .10 is not falling down drunk. It did used to be borderline before the laws were stiffened (no pun intended). After all he was not driving a SUV. He was not even out of the park. How fast can a golf cart go?

It doesn't matter that he wasn't OUT of the park. He was OUT of the ampitheater, obviously if he was on his golf cart. Who does he think he IS being so bold to drive his golf cart with a wine glass in his hand? I MEAN COME ON.. Thats ASKING for trouble. I guess he thought maybe he could get away with it since he IS the city manager. BUSTED!! and well deserved.

Without a seat belt it is enough to paralyse people or worse. If you donl't believe me go and sit behind Morillion Hills on the cart path and watch.... if you dare. Also duck when you hear the gun fire or fire works that sound like a 22. You don't want to be in the line of fire. Go on I double dare you to sit back there between 6:30 and 9:00pm every night go on... be a man.......do it.

If he was targeted because of who he was that is entrapment. This is the man who approves their budget. It almost makes me think they should have called in the State Patrol to deal with whatever disturbance he was making; which by the way we have heard nothing of any problem he was causing.

Was this a road block or just this one guy ? I could not tell.

I'm sorry, but the thought of a sobriety checkpoint roadblock at the Amphitheater just cracks me up. They'd nail roughly 50% of the cart riders for DUI (CUI?) minimum, and many of them some of the "elite" families of PTC who would run good Chief Murray out of town on a rail once they sobered up and bonded out the next day. Not to mention one good night of busts would prolly send the Amphitheater's season ticket renewals into a death spiral.

Peachtree City residents should be very happy that Chief Murray has his "Raiders" focusing on improving their abilities to imitate 14 year old girls in adult Internet chat rooms rather than cutting down on alcohol related golf cart driving.

The real test will be a year or two down the road when our ambitious Chief Murray parlays his 15 minutes of fame as The Small Town Police Chief Who Nabbed More Pedophiles Than Interpol™ into the chiefdom of some medium-sized city and is replaced by someone who will put more emphasis on traditional community policing.

They were waiting for him and him alone and nabbed him just as he was leaving the concert. He was still on the premises. No one else was pulled over, either. POLICE POWER. Took him to jail and locked him up.

Everyone knows PTC police are rabid dogs. If you even think about breaking the law they are all over you. It is refreshing to see that they don't play favorites. Except for the teenagers...they always seem to let them off way to easy. If anyone had a responsibility to know our ordinances it was this guy. Has anyone ever recieved a warning about anyting from PTC police?....Ever? I did't think so. They are always very polite, but you will never get off with just a warning.

or should i say "WHINE"

If not then this is an interesting case. As the one poster suggested, if there was a road block it would have the effect of reducing future ticket sales. There is extensive drinking and driving. Why did the previous city manager get a pass on his ? McMullen likely had 3 glasses of wine. How many others at the show (or coming off the golf course) are like that.

I don't believe this fits the definition of entrapment...but I could be wrong. I don't think the police encouraged him to drink and get in the golf cart, and we all have choices as to drink and drive. Regardless of whether you agree with the law or not, you still have to abide by it or suffer the consequences. The Georgia courts through case law and statutory law have decided that a golf cart is a motor vehicle, and regardless of my agreement with it, it's the law. I expect to get a ticket if I choose to speed, and I expect to get a ticket if I run a redlight. Eveyone who has alcohol in a park, has an open cointainer in a motor vehicle, and everyone who drives drunk should expect to get a ticket or be arrested. I'm sure all of the facts will come to light as this plays itself out.

We're sitting here at the end of our work day just making comments on what we read and we have jerks like Highgreen giving us a hard time on grammar and spelling. I say we let Cal not sweat it and let Highgreen just tweak out all he wants on our mistakes.

.10 is seriously drunk. It's not just a little tipsy.

If he was really wheeling around in a golf cart that drunk, political excuses are just that - excuses.

All you non-lawyers and non-law enforcement officers don't realize the injustice of posting the results from a preliminary alcohol screening. The report indicates that he had an open container. Anyone that knows anything about DUI law and these devices knows that you get a high faulty reading if someone has been drinking right before testing. Indeed, tests have shown that Listerine will show a reading that high if used immediately before taking a test. That is why the admissible test is the intoxilizer 5000 and the test subject must be observed not drinking for 20 minutes before being given the test. Despite the fact that it is stupid to give DUIs for golf carts (we allow 12 year old 6th graders drive them), he is innocent until proven guilty.

These "field tests" are not generally admissable in a court of law, or so I've been told.

I remember attending a Georgia football game in Athens a few years back. In the corner of the Varsity parking lot the Clarke County police had a "test your blood alcohol here" table set up.

I'd just finished my very first beer of the day, and was curious. So, getting tested about two minutes after finishing my beer (washing my mouth out with water first, as directed by the helpful police officer), I blew an incredible .21 on the field unit.

.10 is not that seriously drunk. It used to be borderline until the limits got stiffer. I want to hear the nuts and bolts of what happened. Did he do something crazy or did they single him out for who he was? That's what is missing in this story. When I saw the headline I thought I would hear what he did to get the Police's attention. Where is that?

It is seriously drunk and I know whereof I speak. I don't know any of these people involved and I have no dog in this fight, but my proposed answer to this -

Did he do something crazy

would be "Of course not - unless there were pedestrians or other golf carts around or he had passengers in his golf cart while he was driving around with enough alcohol in his system to blow a .10."

The test was taken because he had an open drink on a golf cart if I understand the thing. We seem to be trying to put ourself in the town manager's place and explaining away some of it, and not mentioning the rest---something like the current Bush administration tries to do. Refusing to take a required breathilizer test is a no-no for almost anybody. If he was arrested premeditatively what with many police wheels just hjappening to be there, then all are guilty of something and should have to face the law. I can't imagine what would happen to an ordinary citizen who struck an officer as Cynthia McKinney did and nothing yet be done. This is what we may have here. Authorities can't be embarrased too much, can they, especially the police?

It appears the police singled him out. That is a BIG problem. What about all the others that had been drinking at the concert? He should not have been drinking that is true, but why did the police get him and only him? Are they going to stop everyone who has a partially used wine bottle in their picnic basket? They charged him with open container and drinking on city property. A few hundred were drinking on city property. This was selective enforcement at it's worse. Bet anyone else involved in the budget hearings with the Chief will think twice about crossing him. Chief is on a power trip.

Why was this man singled out from all the other wine drinkers that were leaving the concert? They were waiting for him and nabbed him. Many, many folks have a little wine at the concerts. Are the police going start stopping them all? They have always been forgiving in the past. This stinks!! Heads should roll over this abuse of POLICE POWER.

maybe he was singled out b/c he had the balls to walk out of the ampitheater with a cup of wine in his hand?? HELLO OPEN CONTAINER!!!

The PTC police have charged many with DUI on golf carts. They've done it for years. They've charged people with open containers. Folks like to gather at the docks to watch the sun set. Used to be an older couple who'd sit & sip a single glass of wine. Not any more!
City judge sentences golf cart DUI offenders to go to the DUI School. One case, as the judge hands down the sentence, the officer tries to tell the judge the driver can't go to the school (Riverdale). He can't drive, because he doesn't have a license. He can't get a license because - the driver is blind! Judge asks the defendant "If you are blind, how do you drive a golf cart?" Answer: "Very slowly".
When those concerts let out - it is crazy traffic. Lots of pedestrians walking in all different directions because cars and carts are parked everywhere. They are in the lot, along both sides of the road, over at the school. Cars and carts all trying to leave at the same time. There is a cop to help with the traffic at the exit by Fisher’s Luck. He’ll stop traffic for pedestrians trying to cross McIntosh trail to get to their cars and carts and to get vehicles out of the lot.
It’s after dark but with all those headlights, it’s not hard to see if a golf cart has occupants with a beer bottle or a wine glass. A plastic cup or a pop can wouldn’t draw so much attention.
The high concentration of cars, carts and pedestrians at the end of a concert doesn’t mix with high alcohol consumption. It’s scary to see some of those folks stumble around the moving traffic – even if they aren’t the driver.

Singled out big time! Murray plays for keeps. Logsdon now supervises him directly and that should be interesting.

Abuse of police power is not going to see the light of day on this one, vox. Instead this will become a vigilance issue --- i.e. the police doing their job and getting the perps under control, no matter who they may be.
meow

My brother got a ticket 20 years ago for "failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign" and had to pay a fine (on a golf cart).
Would you want a drunk driving a golf cart in your neighborhood?

While it allegedly appears that a law was broken, what ever happened to ‘Professional Courtesy”? Unless, the individual in question was being obnoxious to the arresting officer, why not show some professional courtesy?

Could we not have offered to give him a ride home? Would the arresting officer acted in the same manner if this individual was a “brother officer”? One would have to question!!

Come on PTC Police…lighten up a little and show some Professional Courtesy!

Did you forget to answer my question deliberatley??

let me ask again...Would the arresting officer acted in the same manner if this individual was a “brother officer”?

That's Right---PTC Police Should Crack Down on DUI's.....

Start with The Y-Knot Bar....Whoops, we can't do that now, can we....

Then they better get a bigger jail to house everyone that attends a concert at the Fred!

Be real folks......Can anyone honestly believe that he was the only person that had been drinking that night? How many Police Officers attend the Fred? Let me guess...none of them drink.....RIGHT...

I have a bridge for sale in NYC....and the sky is falling....

HELLOOOOO...duh...

I don't know Mr. McMullin, but anyone reading the paper can see this was a set up. I go to the concerts on a regular basis. I have never seen ANYONE pulled over for drinking, much less on a golf cart.
I would venture to guess at least 50% or more of the patrons are drinking some alcohol. So they charged him with drinking on city property, now are they going to charge everyone there drinking? Come on- this reeks. They were waiting for him. Could this have anything to do the the budget hearings they are currently going on in the city???? Looks like abuse of police power to me.

Since when did it become so wrong to go to a concert and have a drink or two, so now I am a low life because when myself and my wife get out without the kids we like to go to concerts and listen to music and have a few drinks. Now I am no better than a drunk homeless person. But look at it on the bright side atleast someone pointed out to me that myself and my wife are both alcoholics because we have a drink at a concert. I guess instead of posting on here I should try and figure out where the closest A.A meeting is.

Yaught: I guess Jesus was a drunk homeless person. First miracle was turning the water into wine. Drank regularly with his disciples. Was often accused of being a drunk by zealots. Drank wine with his disciples at the last supper before he died on the cross for you and me. HAVING SEVERAL GLASSES OF WINE DOES NOT MAKE YOU A DRUNKEN ALCOHOLIC.

So Bernie was drunk. Agreed. But why hasn't the law been enforced before now (cuz the Fred would bite the dust) and why was Bernie the only arrest on Saturday night ? Yaught sez "I quit going because of the morons that cant control their drug intake and made fools of themselves." I agree. These were substandard performers in wheelchairs attended by drunken white trash. Hey, Yaught, if you could see the sea of obvious drunkenness, don't you think the police couldn't too ? So only one DUI on Saturday night ?

There's been a number of "wink, nudge" posts on this site referring to the "special" status of the Y-knot bar. For those of us who came late to the party, can you tell us why that is? I do know they contributed to Mayor Logsdon's campaign, but is that all? Or is this where the PTC police go after work to tie one on?

(I haven't been in the Y-Knot for years, ever since they discontinued live music)

Maybe you should stop chewing on the cat and visit Y-Knot's again. The have chicken strips that taste like cat and drinkers galore. Sure enough, it is only a matter of time before the police go after the patrons there. Lots of targets from the good ole boy group.
meow

I mean lion. Is that cat shaved or wearing body armour or what?

Isn't Harvey the name of Jimmy Stewart's "invisible rabbit"? I guess you & the lion have something in common- big imaginations?

uh oh

Okay. If I must. He is a cross between a house cat and a lion. Our cat became impregnated by a lion while on a field trip to the zoo several years ago with my daughters kindergarten class. I suspect the cat was a stowaway in her backpack. Best we can figure is that kitty got a way and got something??? Well kitty died giving birth to "the lion" and...well you know the rest. We raised the lion to his manhood. The picture is deceiving as the cat....I mean the lion stands 4'4" tall in the picture you see. So he has a natural lion burr for his hair do. I know that it may be against county ordinances to keep a lion on the property but as big as he is we have taught him to bark like a German Shepherd. That guarantees the county marshalls and animal control won't come around to investigate. Hope that helps Harvey. There's more to the story but this particular thread is not about the cat.....I mean the lion but it is about not drinking and driving. I wonder if I would get pulled over if I let the lion be the designated driver?

On the one hand, he was breaking the law, along with likely a hundred or so other people (at least). However, he was in a golf cart and while they can do some damage, it isn't as likely as if he were driving a cement truck out of the parking lot. As any public citizen will tell you, if we were caught in this situation, it wouldn't even be on anyone's radar but we would have been dealt with the same way - jailed, bailed out and embarassed with a court date in our future.

As for the police, they follow people from establishment that serve alcohol all the time and they just wait for something they can consider a slip up, from a missed turn signal to a not quite complete stop at a stop sign. If you had even one drink, you're done, because you will likely admit that you had a drink, they'll assume you had more than one and when the tests come, you'll be nervous and fail at least some of the tests.

If they want to get you, they'll get you. That goes for speeding too. Officers could be lenient in some cases but they aren't likely to be. Why should they be? A broken law is a broken law. And police in PTC will enforce all the broken laws they can - anything to break up the monotony, I guess.

Just take this whole situation as a good lesson. Have a designated driver, every time. Even if it means splitting the duty with your wife and you not drinking one night. It is one less thing to worry about and a DUI can screw your life up big time.

Thankfully, I've never had one and lord knows I could have had several in my life. I'm sure there are a lot of posters that can say the same thing. I'm just glad I never hurt anybody.

Seems like a real good idea - or at least it did until you said "Even if it means splitting the duty with your wife and you not drinking one night" Other than that stupid idea - you are onto something.

Drink or drive - not both. Pick one.
meow