http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/austin/stories/082407kvuemarijuana-cb.67e682eb.html

Lawmakers relax rules on people caught with pot

05:35 PM CDT on Friday, August 24, 2007

By ELISE HU
KVUE News

Getting caught with a little marijuana in Texas may not mean automatic arrest -- at least not anymore.

Starting September 1, police officers will have the discretion to let people caught with four ounces or less get off with a citation and a court date -- instead of being booked.

"It will save us both time and money," said Travis County Sheriff's Department spokesman Roger Wade. "It will give the deputy out on the street a chance to actually stay out on the street."

The Sheriff's Department estimates booking people caught with four ounces or less cost more than $1 million in 2006.

Wade says the change will help unclog booking facilities, too. The criminal penalties for pot possession are not changing; rather, the change simply keeps lower risk lawbreakers from being taken into custody.

"Most marijuana users aren't violent criminals," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project. "If they are violent, they'll get arrested for the violence."

Lawmakers passed the change in House Bill 2391 without fanfare during the spring session.

The new law also gives officers discretion over whether to arrest petty thieves and graffiti artists. Support for the measure is wide.

"It would actually make the most sense not to cite anyone for marijuana and not put them in jail or fine them at all -- it should be legal," said Kampia. "However, this is a step in the right direction."

Holy shit.

That's actually a fairly firm step forward for us pot smokers.

I got caught in Wil-Co with a quarter of dank and a suitcase of beer, driving down 35 and passing people on the shoulder when I was 18. Walked away without a single ticket.

This is pretty sweet, though.