Question for a police officer

[gimp]

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this question, but I figured I'd ask anyway. Am I allowed to drink non-alcoholic beer in the car? The beer says, less than .5% alcohol by volume so it still has some alcohol in it. That would make it an open alcohol container in a vehicle, which is against the law. But it also says non-alcoholic on the can, so I figured I'd ask before I do something stupid.

I had surgery a few weeks ago I can't have any alcohol because of the painkillers, so I have to drink non alcoholic beer. That is why I'm asking. I know there is at least one officer on AO.

Thanks

[Tunaman]

Why don't you just wait till your off the painkillers...then you can drink REAL beer in the car!!

[mcdkid]

thats why you put it in a water bottle... high school education!

[brightman]

Every state has different laws with open container. In Texas it is a class c offense to have an open container of alcohol...An alcoholic beverage is one with any amount of alcohol at all, but not too many officers are going to care that much about it but you never know when a rookie is going to stop you...
Different states have different laws regarding drinking and driving or open container so my advice, if you cant drive without having somethink in your mouth drink a coke until you get to where you are going. Besides drinking non-alcoholic beer is pretty lame.

[PyRo]

Most officers will care, somhow I don't think any of them want to ignore it and chance having to a call where you ran over a kid an hour later. They certainly can arrest you on it, and wheather or not it is actually illigle probably depends on your lawyer.

[Cliffio]

open container is an open container.....chances are, your goin down for it.

not worth the risk for something you have to drink a billion of to get a buzz

[Lohman446]

Every state has different laws with open container. In Texas it is a class c offense to have an open container of alcohol...An alcoholic beverage is one with any amount of alcohol at all, but not too many officers are going to care that much about it but you never know when a rookie is going to stop you...
Different states have different laws regarding drinking and driving or open container so my advice, if you cant drive without having somethink in your mouth drink a coke until you get to where you are going. Besides drinking non-alcoholic beer is pretty lame.

He is right. In MI it is technically illegal to be drinking ANYTHING (water, coke, anything) well driving. Obviously the law is not nearly as severe as alchohol while driving. Granted I have never heard of anyone being busted for it but it is a law on the book, same goes for eating.

[PyRo]

My ex-girlfriends parents got busted for eating while driving

[gimp]

Well. I guess I won't have a fake beer in my car. I figured it would be bad. I can't wait till I can drink real beer again.

[brightman]

Most officers will care, somhow I don't think any of them want to ignore it and chance having to a call where you ran over a kid an hour later. They certainly can arrest you on it, and wheather or not it is actually illigle probably depends on your lawyer.

No, most officers I know, myself included, have better things to do than arrest people for having an open container of nonalcoholic beer. There are those that would arrest for it if they could. Most of the time in a situation such as this a concerned citizen will see you drinking a beer in your car and call the police and follow you till you are stoped. Then the officer is somewhat forced to do something or the citizen will complain on him for not taking action then when he does do something about the person who recieves the citation/arrest complains on him for being a jerk...its a no win situation...just dont drink anything that could be percevied as alcohol and drive

[PyRo]

I was refering to beer that isn't non-alcoholic. You wouldn't do anything if you stopped me for speeding and I had a beer in my hand?

[brightman]

I was refering to beer that isn't non-alcoholic. You wouldn't do anything if you stopped me for speeding and I had a beer in my hand?

Sorry, I assumed since the WHOLE thread was about nonalcoholic beer thats what you where talking about. I apologize...

[WicKeD_WaYz]

I always drink Martinellis while im driving. I try to keep it below the window level but sometimes i still get funny looks from people because it looks exactly like a wine bottle. Im just waiting to get pulled over for it.

[Bolter]

why would you waste money on non alcoholic beers? Thats like drinking decaf coffee

[WickeDKlowN]

Pour it in a coke can.

Reminds me of some comedian I saw on tv once that was talking about getting pulled over and when when the cop asks if you've been drinking wave the can in his face and say "I still am!"