Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

House to take up open container ban second time
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle, MT ^ | April 1, 2005 | Walt Williams

Posted on 04/03/2005 7:26:20 AM PDT by schaketo

HELENA -- House lawmakers will once again have to decide whether to support a law banning open containers in vehicles.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 11-7 Friday to send a Senate version of the open-container ban to the House floor.

Senate Bill 80 by Sen. Gary Perry, R-Manhattan, makes it a crime to have an open beer or other alcoholic beverage in a vehicle, but masks violations of the law from drivers' records.

The House has already approved an open-container law once this session. That ban would have required violations show up on driver's records, as preferred by groups fighting drinking and driving in Montana. But that bill was tabled in a Senate committee.

On Friday, Rep. Chris Harris, D-Bozeman, tried to convince House Judiciary Committee chair Rep. Diane Rice, R-Harrison, to hold off action on Perry's bill until senators reconsidered their action on the House version of the ban.

But he failed, and soon after the committee voted to pass Perry's bill.

Harris agreed to carry it on the House floor for the senator.

An open-container ban has already won the support of a majority of House lawmakers, but there remain some who question its effectiveness.

"It's a sham," committee member Rep. George Everett, R-Kalispell, said. "You are just going to cause good hard-working people that are accountable to become criminals."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Montana
KEYWORDS: ban; container; libertarian; montana; open

1 posted on 04/03/2005 7:26:20 AM PDT by schaketo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: schaketo

Can I take my emtpy beer cans to the recycling in my truck?

My friends and I are on our way to the recycling place with our 6 cans officer...


2 posted on 04/03/2005 7:29:07 AM PDT by joesnuffy (The generation that survived the depression and won WW2 proved poverty does not cause crime)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joesnuffy
My friends and I are on our way to the recycling place with our 6 cans officer...

A likely story! Get out of the car, drop your pants and spread your legs.

3 posted on 04/03/2005 7:31:58 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: joesnuffy

I never understood the open container laws in vehicles. As one that used to have a daily 45 minute commute, I needed my "roadie" every night to help me unwind.

I never drove drunk, and I really don't see how it's any different than drinking a Pepsi.


4 posted on 04/03/2005 7:33:51 AM PDT by FlJoePa (Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: schaketo

Open Container Band??

Never heard them, must be a C/W band, like in the movie, "Blues Brothers"..........


5 posted on 04/03/2005 7:35:48 AM PDT by Inge_CAV
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: schaketo

Guess that means their first open-container law didn't work. Making another law is SURE to do the trick!


7 posted on 04/03/2005 8:41:56 AM PDT by AmericanChef
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: schaketo
As a born and raised Southerner, I can post this photo. I think this guy may even live in my neighborhood! ;~)

I guess this won't be happening in Montana.

8 posted on 04/03/2005 8:50:27 AM PDT by Jackknife (No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.-MacArthur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: schaketo

Great law!!

Now we see the "open" containers on the sides of the roads. People are dumping the "evidence" out of the cars.

If you have SUV and coming back from dinner with unfinished bottle, you are drinking criminal.


9 posted on 04/03/2005 8:51:03 AM PDT by Leo Carpathian (FReeeePeee!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: schaketo

This drinking stuff has just gotten way out of hand. Let's ban alcohol and that will stop the problem.


10 posted on 04/03/2005 8:56:27 AM PDT by jwh_Denver (The Good News of the Gospel of Christ really is Good News!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson