Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampCreature
Yes, clarification is needed. Was the ticket a motor vehicle violation or a general civil violation? DUI/open container or public drinking? The original post says public drinking. If that is so (public drinking), all of the discussion about keys in the ignition and stuff like that is totally irrelevant.
I don't know if the laws have changed since those experiences I mentioned in my prior post. If they are the same, you cannot drink on public property. The streets are public property. It might very well be illegal to take a drink and cross the street from a restaurant over to the square. I know it was very illegal to cross the street with a drink during the Daytona Turkey Run. You had to finish you drink and buy another one on the other side of the street to keep it legal. Or you could cheat and pour your beer from a clear beer cup into a colored soda cup and hope for the best. In many areas with alcohol restrictions (public drinking), beer is sold in clear cups and soda in solid color cups to make it somewhat obvious whether there was a violation. Of course, carrying a classic red and white Budweiser can was just asking for trouble. You can't even pretend that is merely apple juice.
The fact that the golf carts were parked in all probability means they were in a public area. See the property lines in the picture below. All of the slanted parking spaces around the square are public property, not private.
Given a choice between a civil violation and a motor vehicle violation, I would guess public drinking would be preferable to one involving a motor vehicle.
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I usually don't go to the town squares and when I do I don't drink. so tis whole exercise is a waste of time for me. I just think cops are angels with badges and guns protecting the masses.