On Fri, 6 Jun 2003, Shawn Luft wrote:

> Earlier this week I was showing my friend the new Westy... and we stopped
> behind his house and cracked open a couple cold ones.  I wasn't driving, so
> alcohol at the wheel wasn't an issue... however just the same I could see
> it being a problem at times.
>
> What do you all think about this?

I've *heard* of people being ticketed simply because they were legally
drunk, in the car, and had the keys in their posession, but those were all
third-hand stories so I don't know how truthful they are.  I imagine it
would depend on the laws in your area, how busy the cops are tracking down
*real* criminals, and how much of a quota they have to meet.  I also have
doubts that it'd hold up in court if you really didn't plan on going
anywhere.

I've been told, but never confirmed, that because my Westy is registered
as a motorhome it's legal for passengers to drink in the back *while it's
being driven*, but I'm not sure if that's true or one of those urban
legends.  They do it in limos, though, so there must be some exceptions to
the open container laws.

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Diesel Westfalia
'94 Honda Civic Si