Open container laws?

[skiatom]

Recently, a friend of my son purchased a class A RV. His question, to which I am not sure of, is this: Can passengers consume alcoholic beverages while going down the road in a motor home? I know it probably varies from state to state. We are in Oklahoma.

[fairway2002]

drsteve wrote:
Michigan makes no exceptions for a MH.

Michigan law we found said RV over 21 feet..

[way2roll]

crawford wrote:
States listed are states listed that do so

What??

[crawford]

States listed are states listed that do so

[way2roll]

crawford wrote:
Most states have laws prohibiting passengers and drivers from drinking alcohol or possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. However, a handful of states—including Connecticut, Delaware, Missouri, and Mississippi—don’t have open container restrictions on the books. And there are several other states—Tennessee, Virginia, and Rhode Island—that don’t have open container rules that apply to vehicle passengers.

Passenger vehicles and RV's are very different and the laws pertaining to each are different.

Can passengers drink in a car? No. Can passengers drink in the house section of a MH? In most states - Yes.

And as I said before, even if there was a law on the books that you couldn't, it would be all but impossible to enforce.

[crawford]

Most states have laws prohibiting passengers and drivers from drinking alcohol or possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. However, a handful of states—including Connecticut, Delaware, Missouri, and Mississippi—don’t have open container restrictions on the books. And there are several other states—Tennessee, Virginia, and Rhode Island—that don’t have open container rules that apply to vehicle passengers.

[Lwiddis]

“It only takes a $4,000 dollar attorney to get to the answer.”

That’s way over for most traffic tickets. However, if you have the right choose a jury trial, yes. California as lowered the proof needed for infraction convictions.

[patperry2766]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I think you will find virtually everywhere that the rules are the same.
No open liquor in a vehicle. It's not who is drinking it, but the fact of having an open bottle in the vehicle.

Not many years ago TX allowed open beer !

Those days are long gone. Now they take it seriously

[Ed_C]

If you really look at the various states' law you will see it is NOW the consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a MV, not an open container. Although I never looked into all the states; in NY (you don't get much more restrictive) you can drink in the back of an RV. I am a retired NYSP Trooper.

[rgatijnet1]

You can always switch to the new NON-ALCOHOLIC beer from Heineken. It is the beer for people that just like to pee a lot. :B

[theoldwizard1]

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I think you will find virtually everywhere that the rules are the same.
No open liquor in a vehicle. It's not who is drinking it, but the fact of having an open bottle in the vehicle.

Not many years ago TX allowed open beer !

[winniman]

I have used my mh to drive to concerts our band was playing at. Sometimes we brought along some roadies, who would partake in a few cocktails on the way there. As long as the driver, {me} were not partaking in the festivities, I don't see why there should be a problem. We made sure the curtains stayed closed so nothing was visible from the outside. They sat at the table, and played cards on the way there. Im sure most would say no drinking allowed, but I don't see the problem as long as it is not interfering with the driver. I don't see the difference what the passenger is doing, as long as the driver is being responsible.

[77rollalong]

Years ago a friend and myself where driving a van type rv, and broke down on the side of the highway, and decided to open up the side door and sit down and have a beer. we where both into our second beer when the police showed up and told us we could both be charged with impaired driving.. I told the officer that we had just blown the motor ,so we where not going to be driving anywhere.. he then said he could charge us with drinking in a public place.. told him we where in our place of residence as we had a bed and fridge in the back and where drinking inside the van and not outside... He then asked if we would like him to call us a tow truck, which we agreed … and he left...

[way2roll]

Has anyone EVER gotten a citation for this?

On edit; even if there were a law, and even if the officer knew the law, enforcing it would be nearly impossible.

But it's a moot point, it seems like most states exempt the house portion of the MH. Bottoms up passengers.

[drsteve]

Michigan makes no exceptions for a MH.