

| Subject: | Re: Open container law |
| From: | Joseph Fortino |
| Date: | Thu, 27 Feb 2003 09:58:27 -0800 |
salute! Farfrompukin On 27 Feb 2003, Matthew Pollard wrote: > in idaho there is no open containiner law :-) > as long as the driver ain't drunk. the > passangers can drink all they want. in any > vehicle. > > Matthew Pollard "Racing with the wind and > flirting with death Dept. Of Chemistry So have > a cup of coffee and catch your breath" > University of Idaho www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356 > > > > On Thu, 27 Feb 2003, jbrrr510 > <jbrrr510@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > Wow you get serious bonus points!!! > > > > Thank you... I think it's legal, I found the > > following definitions at: > > > > http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt- > > 13.htm > > > > Camper?structure designed to be mounted to a > > vehicle which provides facilities for human > > habitation or camping. VC � 243 > > > > Housecar ? motor vehicle originally > > designed, or permanently altered, and > > equipped for human habitation, or to > > which a camper has been permanently > > attached. VC �362 > > > > Motorhome ? vehicle designed to provide > > temporary living quarters, built as an > > integral part of, or permanently attached > > to, a self- propelled motor vehicle chassis > > or van. > > > > If you google search you can find the entire > > California Vehicle Code, in PDF format at > > least: http://misnt1.sbcusd.k12.ca.us/safet- > > y/Codes-pdf/CalVehCode.pdf > > > > Anyway, it has a slightly longer definition > > of a "Housecar" in (See CVC Division 1 > > Section 362). I think one could easily argue > > that a Westphalia falls into this "Housecar" > > category, as it is "permanently altered, and > > equipped for human habitation". Neither > > definition gives specific requirements for > > "habitation" (ie. the IRS requires a toilet > > and sink the CVC doesn't seem to indicate > > this in any way). > > > > Therefore I am of the belief that it is > > legal for passengers to drink in the back of > > a Westphalia Vanagon even while it is being > > driven within the state of California. I'd > > note of course that per the CVC sections you > > quoted below it is clear that any opened > > containers would need to be kept and stored > > aft of the "driver" area. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In vanagon@yahoogroups.com, > > blbachman@a... wrote: > > > I grew up in CA and after a couple of > > > tickets got arrogant enough > > that I kept a copy of the Vehicle Code in > > the car (for study and 'confrontation'). > > > > > > Nevertheless, it seems pretty confusing to > > > me... > > > > > > ******************************* > > > Drinking in Motor Vehicle > > > 23221. (a) No driver shall drink any > > > alcoholic beverage while in > > a motor vehicle upon a highway. > > > > > > (b) No passenger shall drink any alcoholic > > > beverage while in a > > motor vehicle upon a highway. > > > > > > Amended Sec. 2, Ch. 723, Stats. 1999. > > > Effective January 1, 2000. > > > ********************** > > > > > > That was pretty simple, and... > > > > > > ********************** > > > Storage of Opened Container > > > 23225. (a) (1) It is unlawful for the > > > registered owner of any > > motor vehicle to keep in a motor vehicle, > > when the vehicle is upon any highway or on > > lands, as described in subdivision (b) of > > Section 23220, any bottle, can, or other > > receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage > > that has been opened, or a seal broken, or > > the contents of which have been partially > > removed, unless the container is kept in the > > trunk of the vehicle. > > > > > > (2) If the vehicle is not equipped with a > > > trunk and is not an off- > > highway motor vehicle subject to > > identification, as defined in Section 38012, > > the bottle, can, or other receptacle > > described in paragraph (1) shall be kept in > > some other area of the vehicle that is not > > normally occupied by the driver or > > passengers. For the purposes of this > > paragraph, a utility compartment or glove > > compartment shall be deemed to be within the > > area occupied by the driver and passengers. > > > > > > (b) Subdivision (a) is also applicable to > > > a driver of a motor > > vehicle if the registered owner is not > > present in the vehicle. > > > > > > (c) This section shall not apply to the > > > living quarters of a > > housecar or camper. > > > > > > *********************** > > > > > > That muddied the waters a bit... > > > > > > *********************** > > > > > > Possession of Alcoholic Beverages: > > > Exceptions > > > 23229. (a) Except as provided in Section > > > 23229.1 (which describes > > the situation when minors are in the > > vehicle), Sections 23221 and 23223 do not > > apply to passengers in any bus, taxicab, or > > limousine for hire licensed to transport > > passengers pursuant to the Public Utilities > > Code or proper local authority, or the > > living quarters of a housecar or camper. > > > > > > (b) Except as provided in Section 23229.1, > > > Section 23225 does not > > apply to the driver or owner of a bus, > > taxicab, or limousine for hire licensed to > > transport passengers pursuant to the Public > > Utilities Code or proper local authority. > > > > > > *************************** > > > > > > So, it would appear that the only question > > > you need to consider is > > whether or not the Westfalia, while driving > > down the highway, is considered a passenger > > vehicle or a 'housecar'. Who knows how this > > is determined. If CA has special 'RV' > > plates, perhaps it requires that the vehicle > > be thusly equipped. > > > > > > -bb > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups > > Sponsor ---------------------~--> New Yahoo! > > Mail Plus. More flexibility. More control. > > More power. Get POP access, more storage, > > more filters, and more. http://us.click.yah- > > oo.com/Hcb0iA/P.iFAA/46VHAA/gd26lB/TM ------ > > -------------------------------------------- > > ---------------------~-> > > > > To leave this list send an 'empty' message > > to <mailto:vanagon-unsubscribe@yahoogroup- > > s.com> > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > >
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