almost got busted for emptys

[Agentaaron]

I always keep alcohol in the trunk. A lot of times I will take a few different bottles of alcohol and maybe an occasional 12 pack with a beer missing to friends houses. I just don't want the hassle if I happen to get stopped.

As for the law about drinking in your yard...about a month ago, a bunch of my friends were over and we were all on the pool deck in the back yard. We noticed a lot of police lights driving up and down the street in front of my house, so about 6-7 of us walked out front with pints in hand. One police officer stopped and got out to talk to us (they were looking for some kids that were vandalizing someones property). The officer calmly asked us all to stay in my yard and not step off the curb with our beer in hand because that would be a violation.

In the end, we invited him back when he was off duty, and he has come to two different brew sessions we have had, and the last time even brought two other officers with him who are interested in brewing.

...needless to say, if my alarm at home ever goes off, I expect a pretty quick response time.

 

[Bmorebrew]

During my senior year of high school we got to spend our final three weeks of the year shadowing professionals in a field we found interesting or would be something we would like to get into. My best friend worked with a lawyer. At least in Ohio, 15 years ago the spirit of the law went something like this:

If you had an open container in your car (which also meant it had at least some alcoholic beverage residue) you could be busted. Unless it was in a tied or closed "garbage" bag and beyond arm's reach. Meaning, if you had empty beer cans/bottles in a box or lying on the front seat or on the floorboards, etc - you're done. But if you put that same container into a garbage bag and it was in a place that you could not reach while driving, it was enough to show intent that this was just garbage and not something you just consumed. Also being out of arm's reach apparently raised enough reasonable doubt to when it was consumed.

IANAL, and obviously state laws vary, but the simple solution is, as others have mentioned, put it in the trunk. Even if you are right, don't invite hassle.

 

[mkm193]

As I think most people here have figured out by now in their life there is a difference between getting a ticket/arrested and being found guilty of a crime. From the police perspective if they pull you over on a stretch of dark road in the local bar scene and notice a few empty bottles rolling around... it is not hard to see where their conclusion comes from.

If you think that is bad, try getting accused of hiding a deadly impact weapon when you open your glove compartment and a 6D Maglite rolls out...

 

[gr8shandini]

. . .The officer calmly asked us all to stay in my yard and not step off the curb with our beer in hand because that would be a violation. . .

I remember a party I went to in college (PSU) where people were told the same thing. Unfortunately, the cops weren't as cool as yours and just kept driving around the block until one guy took a half a step back from where he was standing and his heel hit the sidewalk. Lights came on, two cops jumped out and hauled his ass downtown. Cops can be real dicks when they want to be. My policy is to try to never give them any excuse.

 

[jsweet]

Why is your cop a she? Was this a real life example.. Or am i being sexist?

Heh, I try to deliberately use the female pronoun as the neuter tense, especially in a situation where people tend to picture a man anyway. Just to mix things up a bit.

Despite my efforts, my 2-year-old son still use the male pronoun for everything.
When he spots my wife: "I found him!" hehehe...