Commissioner Cook's Column
If you believe this last session of the Texas Legislature was full of unbelievably bad bills and resolutions, you may need to study Texas history. This is a state of tall tales, big lies and stellar memoirs.
If you’ve not read the two-volume set “Texas” by James Michener, might be time to check out those tomes from the library. Weaving fiction, folklore and the truth, Michener sets the stage for modern-day Texas, its people, legislators and attitudes.
Urinating in public is probably prohibited everywhere in the United States, but if you do it on the Alamo, it becomes a state jail felony defined in the Texas Penal Code as criminal mischief of a public monument. There are restrooms there.
In Austin, evidently it is illegal to loiter anywhere in the city limits with the intention of flirting. Those heading out to Sixth Street on a Saturday night might want to take heed.
On that note, don’t go leaning on the bar when drinking beer. Apparently there was a law declaring it illegal to take three sips of beer while standing up. Perhaps that’s the reason there’s so many bar stools.
Marriage ceremonies when one or both people are serving in the military out of the country can occur with properly documented proxies. Virtual is not a new concept here – more like an out-of-body experience.
Regarding marriage, there’s more. Texas does allow for “informal” marriages. A couple can agree to live together and refer to each other as spouses without a marriage license. No state law would recognize them as married after a certain period of time. However, there is no common law divorce so should you part, division of property is not approved by the courts. One or both of the parties would need to file suit to establish the existence of a “marriage” for legal support of a divorce.