XPost: rec.travel.air, alt.travel   
   From: mnc@admin.u.nu   
      
   Edward Glamkowski  wrote:   
   > In Alabama, there is a law on the books that says it is illegal to play   
   > dominoes on Sunday (I believe this is actually a real law there!).  I'm   
   > sure everybody today would find that law stupid and objectionable, but if   
   > a police officer cared to, if he saw someone doing it he could arrest   
   > them.  Nobody can prevent the arrest from occuring - it's the law!   
      
   There is something that prevents that arrest from occurring - it's the DA.   
      
   If the arrest were to happen, there are two things that can happen:   
      
   1) The DA would decline to bring charges, because it would ridicule his   
   office; or   
      
   2) The DA would agree to bring charges, guaranteeing the descent upon his   
   fair town of hordes of lawyers who have been waiting for the chance to   
   challenge the law. In the process, the DA's office would be ridiculed and he   
   would eventually lose, with the law being overturned in the process, on   
   first amendment grounds.   
      
   Therefore, the DA will have made it clear to the police that this law is not   
   to be applied. The police would come out looking ridiculous too, so they're   
   not upset about this.   
      
   > Of course, the government could change the law at any time, but so   
   > far they haven't.   
      
   No, because for the legislature to overtly do so would alienate the   
   anti-Sunday-dominoes demographic, who thus far are left complacent at no   
   cost.   
      
   miguel   
   --   
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