[nanci2539]

My neighbor told me that she and her husband were in Spanish Springs listening to the music in the square in their golf cart The couple next to them were drinking wine and beer (in their golf cart). A police officer came over and handed them a ticket for public drinking. He explained that sitting in a vehicle even a non moving vehicle with an open alchololic beverage is a violation. The couple was so shocked they couldn't speak.

Now if they were standing next to their golf cart or on a sidewalk in the square drinking, that's not against the law!

Is this something that's been going on for awhile or is it a new policy. I know if you have open alcohol in a car and you're stopped for any reason, you can be ticketed for that but we always thought the squares were exempt from this.

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by nanci2539

My neighbor told me that she and her husband were in Spanish Springs listening to the music in the square in their golf cart The couple next to them were drinking wine and beer (in their golf cart). A police officer came over and handed them a ticket for public drinking. He explained that sitting in a vehicle even a non moving vehicle with an open alchololic beverage is a violation. The couple was so shocked they couldn't speak.

Now if they were standing next to their golf cart or on a sidewalk in the square drinking, that's not against the law!

Is this something that's been going on for awhile or is it a new policy. I know if you have open alcohol in a car and you're stopped for any reason, you can be ticketed for that but we always thought the squares were exempt from this.

I can't say say this particular case, but I have heard of people being charged with driving under the influence in similar situations. Aside from that, I did have one motorist ask me at work if he could be arrested for driving under the influence while on his front porch drinking a beer. In my position (MV Enforcement Supervisor) I had to hold back the urge to bust out laughing at the guy!

[ajbrown]

I sure hope there is more to the story, as why an officer would do this fails my common sense test. On a night where we do not feel like staying at the square Linda and I enjoy parking at the square and having a beverage in our cart while listening to the band.

From my experience the officer would be pretty busy if they handed out a ticket to anyone sitting in a parking space at the square enjoying the band and an alcoholic beverage.

Maybe I am wrong again....

[graciegirl]

Maybe they have been experiencing a lot of broken gate arms around eight or nine at night. Sometimes caused by twofers at the squares?

[Jim 9922]

If I remember correctly, the cops wrote a whole bunch of tickets for open drinking in parked golf carts a couple of years ago. Must be budget shortfall time again and quick revenues have to be raised! Or maybe its ticket quota time again.
Too bad the cops don't go after the loud mufflers, rolling stop sign violations, excessive speeding on Moris Blvd, drunk drivers etc. But that would be too hard, those people are moving.
Lets work on enforcing real safety issues, not enforcing the letter of the law.

[memason]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I sure hope there is more to the story, as why an officer would do this fails my common sense test. On a night where we do not feel like staying at the square Linda and I enjoy parking at the square and having a beverage in our cart while listening to the band.

From my experience the officer would be pretty busy if they handed out a ticket to anyone sitting in a parking space at the square enjoying the band and an alcoholic beverage.

Maybe I am wrong again....

AJ.... I agree with the common sense test. It could very well be a true story, but I'm always cautious when a post starts; "My neighbor told me..."

Just my thinking...I've been wrong before

[nitehawk]

I would think that a open container ticket is an individual ticket, and made out to whoever had the open container - for a cop to walk over and hand them a ticket does make sense "A police officer came over and handed them a ticket for public drinking."

[railroadman]

This is a prime example why, in todays economy, local police do very little patrolling.

Patrolling does not pay anything!

[Regor]

Originally Posted by nanci2539

I know if you have open alcohol in a car and you're stopped for any reason, you can be ticketed for that but we always thought the squares were exempt from this.

LMAO! That is funny! Exempt! This really isn't Disney World! Those are public roads!

[red tail]

Originally Posted by Regor

LMAO! That is funny! Exempt! This really isn't Disney World! Those are public roads!

i thought the squares were private property

[Tbugs]

The streets are public property and therefore, laws must be obeyed.

[logdog]

I believe the question was whether or not the squires were private property and by extension whether the parking area around the squire was private property. If the cart in question was parked in the squire parking spot and not on the public road, is the citation valid? If the squires are not private property, then everyone drinking an adult beverage anywhere in and around the squires could be cited for public drinking or open container. I'm not a cop or lawyer, just asking a question.

[red tail]

Originally Posted by Tbugs

The streets are public property and therefore, laws must be obeyed.

is that an opinion or a fact?

[skip0358]

Then why when there is a parade or chili cookoff or a show of some sort when the tables and chairs are set up for the event is it legal. Last time I looked they were in the street?

[DENNIS G]

They have been doing that in Spanish springs for 8 years that we have been here. We were friends of one of the Lady Lake officers, he says they consider an open container in a cart the same as a vehicle. You are presumptive if sitting in the cart or vehicle drinking, and they can write tickets. Saw it happen numerous times over there. Haven't seen it yet at Lake Sumter, but hardly ever see an officer patroling, maybe a quick trip around the square.