The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

I am a relative newcomer in California, but in Alaska open booze was only allowed in a vehicle if the partition was up. Operators here have told me that the partition can be down legally, and from what I have found in the California codes open containers are okay in a professionally driven commercial vehicle. Does anyone know if this covers sedans as well, because when I told a client she couldn't drink in the sedan over the phone she seemed a little surprised.

Ryan I think the thinking behind that was that the law states if minors are present there cannot be open containers in the vehicle. So what would happen if you pull up to a job not knowing it was going to be all minors? If the driver put the decanters up front with him that could be a violation. Having them in a locked container was the regulatory compromise to account for these situations. For limos it's an easy soloution put them in the trunk. But for suv's and vans it might be a diffrent story as the only place to store them would be considered the passenger compartment.

I had an experience where I put the full decanters up in the ice chest in the drivers compartment (where passenger seat should have gone). Was at the back of the hummer dealing with the parents the kids reached through the divider and grabbed them taking a few swigs each. I only got the story because they got sick a few hours later. Straight vodka will do that to a 14 year old.

Think it is also there to deter complicit drivers from allowing minors to drink alchohol then at the first sign of getting pulled over tells them all to pass it up front. Well if there is a bunch of open contaniers next to a driver with minors in the back you can kind of assume some drinking was being allowed to go on.

But in reality none of this means much in the day to day operations of a limo company. I have never seen a locking utility compartment in a limo in CA. Most of the time you know you are going on a kids run so you just leave your decanters at the office. The situations where you will not have time to get back and get them say for the next run are few and far between.

Even with my bad experience I still dont keep them under lock and key just try to remember to roll up and lock the divider when out of the vehicle (good idea no matter what) when I have kids, or adults who act like kids, in the rear. I have never heard of any kind of enforcement around this subject. Basically if you do your best to keep it out of the reach of children no cop will hassle you about it. Heck only a few of them actually know about the details of this law off the top of thier heads.

But keep in mind you pull up to a prom and drunk kids get out of you limo trust me they will get out the books, do some reading and charge you with every violation they can find. This one included.

Many more important laws to focus your attention on in this business.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave M:
Possession of an open container is allowed in any charter party vehicle. This includes limousines, taxicabs, and buses. This rule doesn't apply when transporting passengers under the age of 21.

You can find this law in Sections 23229 and 23229.1 of the California Vehicle Code

Dave

(b) For purposes of subdivision (a), it is not a violation of Section 23225 for any charter-party carrier of passengers operating a limousine for hire which is licensed pursuant to the Public Utilities Code to keep any bottle, can, or other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage in a locked utility compartment within the area occupied by the driver and passengers.

Thanks Dave, but what does it mean when it says in a locked utility compartment?

Bar Bans.
Sometimes, when a day of NY Limos is over , I love to get a drink at the new Boutique Bars that are popping up all over the city. Mostly in the W Hotels in NYC. They are all dimly lit with candles scattered about. All the Barmaids wear short black dresses, and are hot. And the music. Deep, rich, rhythms and lofty spa like tunes like something out of Miami Vice. Drink prices are ridiculous, of course (so I have a few on the way over), but I go for the atmosphere and the feeling of the moment. For a few minutes, I feel like I'm cool, part of something, like I got past the ban of the velvet rope. The same way I try to make people feel in my New York City Car Service.
RUSSELL FIGAREDO
www.abcrnblimos.com

Possession of an open container is allowed in any charter party vehicle. This includes limousines, taxicabs, and buses. This rule doesn't apply when transporting passengers under the age of 21.

You can find this law in Sections 23229 and 23229.1 of the California Vehicle Code

Dave