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Bill’s passage means no open booze for passengers
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 11:41pm
Automobile passengers would be prohibited from having open containers of alcohol under legislation approved Tuesday by the state Senate.
Currently, Tennessee’s “open container law” only applies to drivers.
The Senate bill, however, would make it a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $50 fine, for a passenger or a driver to have an open container of booze in a vehicle.
“We’re trying to get people off the roads who are driving drunk,” said Sen. Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), the bill’s sponsor. “And when you’re allowed to have an open container, that’s not going to help on our drunk driving laws.”
The bill passed 23-7.
Sen. Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis), one of the no votes, called the bill “elitist” because it allowed passengers in limousines and recreational vehicles to consume alcohol.
“People who are wealthy that can afford to hire a driver, a limo or whatever, can have open containers in a vehicle but people who choose a designated driver … these people would be liable under this bill,” Marrero said.
If the bill ultimately becomes law, an additional $12 million could go toward the state’s highway fund to build or pave new roads.
Currently, federal rules require the $12 million to be spent on anti-drunk driving awareness as a result of Tennessee being penalized for not having an open container law fitting federal guidelines.
Sen. Douglas Henry (D-Nashville), who voted against the bill, called it a “great intrusion” by the federal government on the rights of Tennesseans.
“If I’m driving the car and somebody’s riding over here and he has a can of beer, if you pass this bill, he can’t have that can of beer while he’s riding with me because the assumption of the bill is that he’ll pass that beer to me and I’ll drink it while I drive,” Henry said. “That’s not right. That assumption should not be made.”
Later, when addressing the $12 million flexibility the Department of Transportation would have if the bill became law, Henry asked: “What’s the price for your liberty?”
While the measure has passed the Senate, it still has several steps to clear in the House. Currently, the bill is in the House Budget Subcommittee.
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Filed under: City News
Our state legislators pass laws that can be enforced. They never tackle a problem that brings a city or state to it's knees. Drunk Driving is bad but a pimple on a elephants butt compared to other problems this state has.
Are these Senators quoted completely braindead??? Is it not an 'intrusion' when DUI driver kills someone else? Are we really to think that the wealthy get limos so that they can have a beer on the way to work and the poor economically challenged people can't afford to hire a driver so its not fair because they can't booze it up on the way to their jobs?!?!?!How do these Democrats get elected?!?!
Great news but needs to apply to all.
The fact that an idiot like Beverly Marrero was elected to public office says a lot about the city of Memphis ... and ain't none of it favorable. (I'd like to snatch one of the dumba** hats she wears off her head and slap her with it about six times.)
I in no way defend that woman.However, it does seem odd that the party which supports allowing corporate America to police itself wish to limit the freedom of everyone else.
Meh. I do a lot of 'designated driving', and haven't yet had the temptation to grab a rider's booze and swig it. This is a meddlesome, intrusive law, but when we have full-time politicians, what else can we expect them to do except sit around passing new laws and increasing taxes?And, we're worried about an extra $12 million for our road fund. Ha! Soon, we'll need fewer roads. Gas prices may hit $400/bbl in 30 years; pavement won't be so important. Just ask the Amish.
I hope cell phones are next. They are more of a danger to other drivers than a passenger swigging a Bud.
Mom just called to say her best friend from high school in Houston lost his wife a few days ago to a drunk driver. She was out walking. Now she's dead. Drunk driving is not going to go away until you get serious about it, but usually that's AFTER you're a victim... alas, too late.
girliegirl, the punishment should come with the wreck and the loss of life. Not from drinking. Let the penalty for killing your mom's best friend be so severe that people who drink police themselves.
But that's irrational or we wouldn't have Briley speeding thru the counties at a 100mph and loaded at the same time.