Bar Car
May 12, 2008 on 1:57 pm | In State |
The recent failure of the Connecticut General Assembly to pass a law banning open containers of alcohol in vehicles raises an interesting question. Do we really need such laws? Evidently the NYT thinks it’s a no-brainer.
As I told a regular reader of this blog in an email a few moments ago, I really could care less whether passengers are sipping tea or doing boilermakers so long as the driver is sober. Driving while impaired is strictly prohibited. So, for that matter, is making such a disturbance in a car as to cause an accident, as drunken passengers might do. Sounds to me like we’re already covered.
Unless someone can provide compelling evidence that allowing passengers to consume alcohol will result in higher drunk driving rates, then I’m inclined to chalk this failed legislation up as a “feel-good” measure that would do nothing more than make lawmakers and victims of drunk driving feel like they are doing something about the problem.
BTW I’d put hate crimes in the same category. Lynching, beating, raping and murder are already serious crimes punishable by lengthy prison sentences, life in prison or worse. But hey, it makes us feel better when we can impose a special sanction on a criminal if he tortures another man just because he’s gay or African American.
The folly of that sentiment was best illustrated by the Texas lynching death of James Byrd, a black man who was savagely beaten by three white men, tethered to a car, dragged three miles and ultimately decapitated.
Civil right advocates were upset at then-Gov. George W. Bush for his opposition to hate crimes legislation. Even without such measures, two of the three men were sentenced to death and the third was given a life sentence. All this was accomplished without hate crime laws. Imagine that …
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Terry, your logic is impeccable, but I got the impression from reading the Times this morning that CT is regularly forfeiting several $MM in Federal funds due to our protection of the guys who throw the dead soldiers out the window while cruising along Between the Lakes Road.
Comment by Geoff Brown — May 12, 2008 #
Geoff,
I’m glad you noticed that. When the feds withhold highway funds (or the like) to make us comply with questionable policies, then I throw my arms up in despair.
I’ve got an idea. Since you and I don’t like the Iraq war, we should withhold payment to the IRS of that portion of our taxes that would go to the war. I wonder how they’d like that …
Comment by Terry — May 13, 2008 #
Its plain and simple..
Open alcohol containers do not belong in a car…period.
It should be against the law.
Comment by Marshall Miles — May 13, 2008 #
I’m sending a letter to the Journal today. I don’t mean to make light of this situation, but I think I have the perfect solution. You’ll have to read the Journal to see what it is!
Comment by Carolyn McDonough — May 13, 2008 #
Carolyn,
I look forward to your letter.
Marshall,
Just saying something’s wrong isn’t very compelling. Surely, you have better reasons for supporting the ban on open containers in cars. I am willing to be convinced if you can show me some evidence that a ban will reduce drunk driving.
Comment by Terry — May 13, 2008 #
Its bad enough to have people eating and drinking in cars that are moving. Allowing open containers of alcoholic beverages in cars, leads to their consumption in cars..possibly over consumption..leading to drunken behavior by the occupants of the car…possibly leading to distractions for the driver.
If you can get fined for using a cell phone as a distraction while driving, then you should not have to have a distraction from a drunk passenger.
it just takes a split second, thats all, for an accident to happen.
Prudish as I might be..its the way I feel.
Comment by Marshall Miles — May 13, 2008 #
Another good reason not have open alcohol containers in your car is that if they spill, they’ll smell really really bad, especially after the car is parked in the sun for a few hours with the windows up. With that in mind, maybe open milk containers should also be kept from cars as well.
Comment by Mark — May 13, 2008 #
Terry, I think you may be demanding evidence that isn’t available. Common sense tells us that if you have an open bottle of booze in the car, the chances are greater than nil that some of it will be consumed. Enough to get you drunk or to distract you somehow? Again, the chances have to be greater than nil, right? That said, if I take an opened bottle of wine to a friend’s for dinner (how gauche!), I would not want to be slapped with a misdemeanor.
Comment by Peter Halle — May 14, 2008 #