SF0027 - Motor vehicles-open containers.

 

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0042.E1 ENGROSSED

 

 

 

SENATE FILE NO.  SF0027

 

 

Motor vehicles-open containers.

 

Sponsored by:  Senator(s) Roberts, Boggs, Erb, Geis, Job,
Massie, Meier, Peck and Scott and
Representative(s) Johnson, W., McMurtrey,
McOmie, Nelson, Osborn and Ross

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

 1  AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; prohibiting
 2  transportation and possession of alcoholic beverages in
 3  motor vehicles as specified; providing definitions and
 4  exceptions; providing a penalty; and providing for an
 5  effective date.

 6 

 7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 8 

 9         Section 1.  W.S. 31-5-235 is created to read:

10 

11         31-5-235.  Transportation and possession of alcoholic
12  beverages in opened containers prohibited; definitions;
13  exceptions; penalty.

14 

15         (a)  As used in this section:

 

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 1 

 2              (i)  "Alcoholic beverage" means alcoholic liquor
 3  or malt beverage as defined in W.S. 12-1-101(a)(i), (vii)
 4  and (x);

 5 

 6              (ii)  "Recreational vehicle" means a self-
 7  propelled vehicle designed primarily with living quarters
 8  for recreational, camping, vacation or travel use but
 9  excludes any vehicle which does not have plumbing and an
10  electrical system which operates above twelve (12) volts.

11 

12         (b)  No person shall transport or possess any
13  alcoholic beverage in a vehicle on a public street or
14  public highway unless the beverage is:

15 

16              (i)  In the original unopened package or
17  container, the seal of which has not been broken and from
18  which the original cap, cork or other means of closure has
19  not been removed;

20 

21              (ii)  In the trunk or any other outside
22  compartment of the vehicle which is not readily accessible
23  to any person in the vehicle while the vehicle is in
24  motion;

 

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 1 

 2              (iii)  In the unoccupied back of a pickup truck
 3  out of reach of the driver even though access is available
 4  through a window; or

 5 

 6              (iv)  In an unoccupied rear compartment of a
 7  vehicle not equipped with a trunk or other outside
 8  compartment and the rear compartment is not readily
 9  accessible to the driver and not normally occupied by
10  passengers while the vehicle is in motion.

11 

12         (c)  This section shall not apply to any passenger in
13  a chartered bus designed to carry more than ten (10)
14  persons or a chartered limousine when the vehicles are
15  being used for the transportation of passengers, or to any
16  occupant in the living quarters of a recreational vehicle.
17  The driver of any bus, limousine or recreational vehicle is
18  prohibited from consuming or having any alcoholic beverage
19  in or about the driving area of the vehicle.

20 

21         (d)  This section shall not apply to any driver who is
22  not drinking an alcoholic beverage while operating the
23  motor vehicle even though another occupant of the motor
24  vehicle may be in violation of this section.

 

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 1 

 2         (e)  Any person violating this section shall:

 3 

 4              (i)  For a first conviction or a subsequent
 5  conviction not occurring within one (1) year after the
 6  first conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than
 7  two hundred dollars ($200.00);

 8 

 9              (ii)  For a second conviction within one (1) year
10  after the first conviction, be punished by a fine of not
11  more than three hundred dollars ($300.00) or by
12  imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both;

13 

14              (iii)  For a third or subsequent conviction
15  within one (1) year after the first conviction, be punished
16  by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00)
17  or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or
18  both.

19 

20         Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2001.

21 

22                         (END)

 

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