5/4/05-A bill that would have prohibited open containers of alcohol in vehicles has died.
The House Committee on State and Local Government’s subcommittee voted down the bill April 27, effectively killing it for the year.
Under Tennessee law, drivers are prohibited from having an open alcoholic beverage, but passengers 21 years of age or older are free to drink while in the vehicle.
HB307, sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, sought to eliminate the open container provision in state law. It called for violators to get up to a $500 fine and/or six months in jail.
Tennessee is required to spend a chunk of its federal highway funds on traffic safety because the state doesn’t have a ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles.
The state is one of about a dozen nationwide that allows open alcohol containers in vehicles. Last year, that distinction forced the state to pull 3 percent, or about $12 million, out of the highway construction budget and put it to other uses.
The federal government mandated in 2001 that states either pass open container laws or spend a percentage of federal highway dollars on traffic safety projects such as installing cables to prevent crossover accidents and drunken driving checkpoints.
Despite the bill’s failure in the House, a Senate version of the bill – SB89 – remains active. It was brought up for consideration this past week in the Senate Transportation Committee but the panel delayed action on the bill.

3/4/05-Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, has introduced a bill that would ban consumption and possession of open containers of alcohol in vehicles traveling public roadways.
Violators could get 30 days in jail and/or up to a $50 fine.
HB307 wouldn’t apply to passengers in taxis, limousines and recreational vehicles.
Tennessee is being forced to spend a chunk of its federal highway funds on traffic safety because the state doesn’t have a ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles.
The state is one of about a dozen nationwide that allows open alcohol containers in vehicles; last year, that distinction forced Tennessee to divert 3 percent, or about $12 million, of its highway construction budget and put it to other uses.
The federal government mandated in 2001 that states either pass open container laws or spend a percentage of federal highway dollars on public safety projects such as drunken driving checkpoints and installing cables in medians to prevent crossover accidents.
Tennessee law outlaws drivers from having an open container of alcohol, but passengers 21 years of age or older are free to drink while in a moving vehicle.
The bill is in the House State and Local Government Committee. For bill status, call (615) 741-3511.
An identical Senate bill – SB89 – is in the Senate Transportation Committee.