Parents drinking beer while taking kids trick-or-treating?

[Anonymous]

That is definitely not a federal law, PP. Instead of wiki, how about you cite the statute you claim exists?

[Anonymous]

This is a good one too

http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/a-z/open-container-law.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is definitely not a federal law, PP. Instead of wiki, how about you cite the statute you claim exists?

I already apologized for the mistake. Are you drunk already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the Las Vegas Strip of Las Vegas, Nevada; Beale Street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Savannah Historic District of Downtown Savannah, Georgia; and Fredericksburg, Texas."

From http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_container_law

Sorry folks but Arlington or any city in DC metro area is not listed there...

So your point is that it's illegal because wikipedia doesn't specifically list Virginia as an exception, despite the fact that there is no law in the Virginia code that makes it illegal?

It's not Wikipedia... There are several websites who mention the exceptions to this very specific FEDERAL LAW!!!!!!!

What else do you need to see to understand that drinking alcohol while walking on a public street is against the law?

There is NO federal law, and even the pages you link to do not include any mention of a federal law. If it was a federal law, there wouldn't be city by city exceptions unless codified. There are however numerous state laws that ban open containers. Virginia has a law that adresses open containers in vehicles that was quoted above, but no law against open containers on the street.
If you think I'm wrong and can find the actual federal law citation, not some website, the actual citation from the US Code, then I personally promise to donate $100 to MADD or another charity you post. I'm that sure that there is no federal law against open containers.

I awas writing this when you posted your "opps", but I'll add to the challenge that you can't find an actual citation from the Virginia code either.

[Anonymous]

hey calm down...

I got excited about the topic and researched the law in other countries and got messed up - and APOLOGIZED for it.

Go back and read again... Geesh!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the Las Vegas Strip of Las Vegas, Nevada; Beale Street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Savannah Historic District of Downtown Savannah, Georgia; and Fredericksburg, Texas."

From http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_container_law

Sorry folks but Arlington or any city in DC metro area is not listed there...

So your point is that it's illegal because wikipedia doesn't specifically list Virginia as an exception, despite the fact that there is no law in the Virginia code that makes it illegal?

It's not Wikipedia... There are several websites who mention the exceptions to this very specific FEDERAL LAW!!!!!!!

What else do you need to see to understand that drinking alcohol while walking on a public street is against the law?

There is NO federal law, and even the pages you link to do not include any mention of a federal law. If it was a federal law, there wouldn't be city by city exceptions unless codified. There are however numerous state laws that ban open containers. Virginia has a law that adresses open containers in vehicles that was quoted above, but no law against open containers on the street.
If you think I'm wrong and can find the actual federal law citation, not some website, the actual citation from the US Code, then I personally promise to donate $100 to MADD or another charity you post. I'm that sure that there is no federal law against open containers.

[Anonymous]

You guys are killing me. Is there not a lawyer online who can actually POST A REAL VIRGINIA CODE SECTION??? I'm really sorry pps, but the DAs can't actually point to a general website that says "most cities have open container laws" when they are trying to prove their cases in court. Given that no one has been able to PROVIDE AN ACTUAL LEGAL CITATION, I am starting to believe one does not exist. In other words, it is NOT illegal to walk around in VA with an open container of beer because there is no VA statute that makes it illegal.

[Anonymous]

"18.2-388. Profane swearing and intoxication in public; penalty;transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center.
If any person profanely curses or swears or is intoxicated in public, whethersuch intoxication results from alcohol, narcotic drug or other intoxicant ordrug of whatever nature, he shall be deemed guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.In any area in which there is located a court-approved detoxification centera law-enforcement officer may authorize the transportation, by police orotherwise, of public inebriates to such detoxification center in lieu ofarrest; however, no person shall be involuntarily detained in such center."

I can't imagine how humiliating it would be to be... can you imagine being jailed during ToTing with your kids and all other parents around? U-GLY!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"18.2-388. Profane swearing and intoxication in public; penalty;transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center.
If any person profanely curses or swears or is intoxicated in public, whethersuch intoxication results from alcohol, narcotic drug or other intoxicant ordrug of whatever nature, he shall be deemed guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.In any area in which there is located a court-approved detoxification centera law-enforcement officer may authorize the transportation, by police orotherwise, of public inebriates to such detoxification center in lieu ofarrest; however, no person shall be involuntarily detained in such center."

I can't imagine how humiliating it would be to be... can you imagine being jailed during ToTing with your kids and all other parents around? U-GLY!

That is the law that makes it illegal to be drunk in public. It doesn't make it illegal to have an open container.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when you've had a night without six hours of uninterrupted sleep, or the kid has kept you up all night, do you have someone come in and watch your kids?

Sure you don't. Get off your high horse.

If the sleepless night leaves me as impaired as a glass of wine Sure Thing!

We're discussing the fact that drinking in public is against the law. Now, sleep deprived parents behind the wheel is another topic. [/quote/]

No, we're discussing your statement that one drink leaves a person dangerously unfit to parent. My statement is that sleep deprivation does leave one in the same state. Studies have shown this. And you are denying that you could be in an unfit condition and yet continue to parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quick question for the drunks... have you been the designated driver for your group of friends?

Just a quick answer for the tight-assed prudes: Sure!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"18.2-388. Profane swearing and intoxication in public; penalty;transportation of public inebriates to detoxification center.
If any person profanely curses or swears or is intoxicated in public, whethersuch intoxication results from alcohol, narcotic drug or other intoxicant ordrug of whatever nature, he shall be deemed guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.In any area in which there is located a court-approved detoxification centera law-enforcement officer may authorize the transportation, by police orotherwise, of public inebriates to such detoxification center in lieu ofarrest; however, no person shall be involuntarily detained in such center."

I can't imagine how humiliating it would be to be... can you imagine being jailed during ToTing with your kids and all other parents around? U-GLY!

First, the law is against being intoxicated in public, not consuming in public. Drinking 1-2 beers, 1-2 glasses of wine, a "shot" of a margarita does not make most adults "intoxicated", so there would be no arrest or ticket for misdemeanor and trip to detox center for most while ToTing.

Anyway, Va does not actually enforce this law, unless the person is unruly. Think how many people would be arrested on Friday and Saturday night in any bar district, or attending a sporting event?

I saw many people consuming beverages (wine? beer? water? hot cocoa? I don't know) while taking their children ToTing. They were not guzzling the drinks. I did not see anyone drunk. I did see unruly teenager though. Maybe they needed to be arrested.

Anyway, search the Virginia code for alcohol, and you will find no law against drinking in public.

http://leg1.state.va.us/000/src.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, sweetheart, I don't need to roam around. Looking for idiot, irresponsible parents. Unfortunately they're everywhere so chances are there'll be a few in any function we decide to attend. This thread is a good example of it.

Do you actually have any friends?

Your little MommyMartyr behavior is really tiresome.

Let me break this down for you very easily...drinking ONE glass of wine during trick or treating does not result in me - or anybody else - being an idiot, irresponsible parent. All b/c you have seen an example or two of parents drinking too much and not properly watching their children does not mean that this is common. Hell, pretty much every kid in Europe would be dead if - using your logic - having a drink resulted in injured, dead children.

You seriously need to get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Jesus, can this thread DIE already?

[Anonymous]

I actually found a Fairfax County Code citation prohibiting drinking alcohol in public places (streets and parks).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
That is the law that makes it illegal to be drunk in public. It doesn't make it illegal to have an open container.

This distinction has been lost on the nutso who equates having one glass of wine/beer to being a drunk, irresponsible parent. We've tried. She just can't bring herself to admit that these are two very different things (drinking one glass of wine and drinking multiple glasses to the point where you are drunk).