The fun side of the Texas "castle" law

[Tuberski]

DALLAS (AP) -- Police say an elderly Dallas homeowner opened fire on an electric utility employee replacing meters after suspecting the worker was trying to break into his home.

According to a Dallas Police Department statement, the Oncor utility worker was hit by flying splinters Tuesday morning when one of the shotgun rounds hit a wooden post. Paramedics examined the worker, but he wasn't taken to a hospital.

Police say the worker knocked on the 79-year-old man's door but got no answer. He went to the rear of the house and used a ladder to climb a fence to get access to the meter.

Police say the homeowner, thinking the worker was breaking in, fired several shotgun blasts through the back door. They're questioning him and likely will refer the case to a Dallas County grand jury.

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Man-opens-fire-on-utility-worker-replacing-meter/1NMBJvSegUi3VfLM0HteVQ.cspx

ACK!

[Kidlicious]

Slowwhand?

[Ben Kenobi]

Interesting. I'd be very surprised if the meter reading company said that climbing a ladder to get over a wall without permission is in their protocols.

[a.kitman]

Interesting. I'd be very surprised if that justify shooting at someone.

[Kidlicious]

Interesting. I'd be very surprised if the meter reading company said that climbing a ladder to get over a wall without permission is in their protocols.

Indeed. This is Texas after all.

[Darius871]

Interesting. I'd be very surprised if the meter reading company said that climbing a ladder to get over a wall without permission is in their protocols.

Maybe not, but power companies typically do have a pre-existing easement for that purpose and therefore don't need "permission" to do what he did. It's just an unnecessary risk, that's all.

[Ben Kenobi]

Interesting. I'd be very surprised if that justify shooting at someone.

You're an 80 year old man and some punk you don't recognise just scaled your fence.

[Darius871]

You're an 80 year old man and some punk you don't recognise just scaled your fence.

"Some punk"? You don't know from the article what his appearance was like.

Compare:




with:

[Felch]

Old man sounds awesome.

[Ben Kenobi]

It's just an unnecessary risk, that's all.

Exactly. The proper response, is to make note of the house and return at a later time. The meter ain't going anywheres.

When I was a pizza delivery driver, we were not allowed to go anywhere else other then the front door, unless the delivery specified otherwise. We had a radio, and were supposed to check in every 10 minutes or so, for our own safety. Carrying a hundred dollars in cash in some rather rough neighbourhoods is not fun.

[Felch]

If I were inclined to break into people's houses, I'd get an orange vest and hardhat, a plain white van or pickup, and do that **** in broad daylight.

I'm ****ing serious. Neighbors will just shrug off whatever suspicious stuff you do as long as you have an orange vest and hardhat. If nobody is home then you're free to take whatever valuables you want.

[Darius871]

Exactly. The proper response, is to make note of the house and return at a later time. The meter ain't going anywheres.

Agreed then; from the tone of your first post it seemed like you meant that "permission" mattered with respect to the owner's actions, which it doesn't. It's just a matter of whether the company could have done more policywise to keep its workers safe.

[Darius871]

If I were inclined to break into people's houses, I'd get an orange vest and hardhat, a plain white van or pickup, and do that **** in broad daylight.

I'm ****ing serious. Neighbors will just shrug off whatever suspicious stuff you do as long as you have an orange vest and hardhat. If nobody is home then you're free to take whatever valuables you want.

Unless you're black. I suppose I should have picked a better picture.

[a.kitman]

You're an 80 year old man and some punk you don't recognise just scaled your fence.

you know its very sad you actaully think thats a valid argument.

[Ben Kenobi]

Agreed then; from the tone of your first post it seemed like you meant that "permission" mattered with respect to the owner's actions, which it doesn't.

Scaling a fence with a ladder I would argue requires the prior consent of the owner. Meter reading does not. If he had met with the homeowner and he refused to provide access for the meter inspection, then that's the responsibility of the company to cut off his power. It's not the responsibility of the employee to attempt to measure the reader if the meter has been blocked.

It's just a matter of whether the company could have done more policywise to keep its workers safe.

I'm pretty sure it isn't company policy to scale fences.