Open Container Law In Texas Fine
What is the punishment for violating texas open container laws.
Open container law in texas fine. Section 49 031 d of the texas penal code makes violating the open container law a class c misdemeanor. As long as you and your passengers are not violating any other laws you ll simply be given a ticket and ordered to pay the fine. While the minimum jail sentence for a first dwi is normally three days a first dwi conviction involving possession of an open container carries a minimum sentence of six days in jail. This means it s essentially a traffic ticket provided your bac is below 0 08 and you were not committing any other crime at the time you were stopped.
Open container law in texas and jail time. What is the penalty for violating the open container law in texas. Longer jail time can also result if a driver is charged with a dwi and if an open container is found in the vehicle. Class c misdemeanor 500 fine.
Police will write you a ticket. How much is an open container ticket in texas. Possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle is a class c misdemeanor punishable by up to a 500 fine. You and or your passengers will be issued a ticket to pay a fine.
Drivers found with open containers in their cars can be given a citation which is a class c misdemeanor and face a fine of up to 500. Additionally possessing an open container can enhance the penalties for a dwi driving while intoxicated conviction. Every day adults are arrested for suspicion of dui upon the determination that their blood alcohol level bac is above the legal limit of 0 08. The takeaway from texas open container law.
Some people think an open container is like a dwi. The open container fine in texas is no more than 500. The maximum fine is 500. That means a first time offender can be punished by a fine up to 500.
B a person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses an open container in a passenger area of a motor vehicle that is located on a public highway regardless of whether the vehicle is being operated or is stopped or parked. Possession by a person of one or more open containers in a single criminal episode is a single offense. By itself possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle is a class c misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to 500 and no mandatory jailtime. What is the penalty for violating the open container law.
Possession by a person of one or more open containers in a single criminal episode is a single offense. 49 031 d tells us that it is a class c misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to 500. However you can receive a fine for each open container found in your vehicle so if you have a stash of half empty bottles rolling around in your front seat then you may receive multiple 500 fines. B a person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses an open container in a passenger area of a motor vehicle that is located on a public highway regardless of whether the vehicle is being operated or is stopped or parked.
Texas considers possession of an open container to be a class c misdemeanor.