http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/metropolitan/97/09/13/woody.20.html

Harrelson champions rights `but not on a Friday night'

By LISA TEACHEY
Copyright 1997 Houston Chronicle

Actor Woody Harrelson, in town for an environmental rally, staged a
shortlived protest of a different kind Friday.

But the activist gave in on what he called a matter of principle, after
spending two hours in the City Jail for not wearing a seat belt.

"I chickened out on the fifth floor (of HPD's headquarters downtown),"
Harrelson said. "I paid the fine so I could have a Friday night."

Harrelson was arrested about 4:15 p.m. in the 6700 block of Hillcroft
when the car his lawyer was driving was pulled over by HPD officers
looking for unbelted motorists. State law requires all drivers and front
seat passengers to wear seat belts. The officers working on Hillcroft
were part of a federally funded program to enforce safetyrestraint
laws.

Harrelson, the only person in the car not wearing a seat belt, was
arrested for refusing to sign a ticket for the offense.

"Probably I'm an idiot for not wearing my seat belt, but I think I
should have the right to make that choice," he said after deciding to
plead guilty and pay a $95 fine so he could get out of jail.

His weekend plans apparently proved more important than fighting for his
rights.

"Sometimes you feel like you should stand up for your rights, but not on
a Friday night," Harrelson told jailers.

Police spokesman Jack Cato said that if Harrelson had signed the
citation when it was issued, he would have only been agreeing to appear
in court on the seat belt charge.

"All the signature means is you will show up in court," Cato said. "It
is not an admission of guilt. It says that on the ticket."

Earlier in the day, Harrelson took part in a Galleriaarea rally against
Houstonbased Maxxam's logging operations in the California redwood
forests.

"You have to pick your battles," Harrelson said as he was leaving the
jail. "Mine is trees."