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Ban on Open Containers Inside Vehicles Begins at Midnight

1 September 2000

Ban on Open Containers Inside Vehicles Begins at Midnight; New Law Affects Passengers as Well as Drivers

    RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 31 North Carolina's drunk driving laws
will be strengthened at midnight tonight as the state enacts a measure that
makes it tougher for motorists to mix the deadly drinking and driving
combination.
    The new law, which was passed by the General Assembly in July, prohibits
anyone in a vehicle from having an open container of alcohol on a highway or
highway right-of-way.  Previously, the driver was prohibited from having an
open container of alcohol, however both front- and backseat passengers were
allowed to have open containers of beer and wine.  The new law will target the
individual who possesses or consumes the alcoholic beverage.
    Another part of the law strengthens a law that was put into effect on
July 1, which states that any motorist convicted of having an AC of 0.16 or
greater would have to have an ignition-interlock system installed in their
vehicle before they are allowed to drive.  Previously, offenders were required
to install the ignition-interlock system only in their primary vehicle.
Starting today, offenders will have to install the alcohol-detection device in
all vehicles registered to them.
    This law stemmed from a recommendation by the Governor's Task Force on
Driving While Impaired.
    "North Carolina already has some of the toughest drunk driving laws in the
country, and now we are a leader yet again by demonstrating that we will not
tolerate open containers anywhere inside a vehicle," said Joe Parker, director
of the Governor's Highway Safety Program.  "The residents of this state should
be proud of the leadership we have in fighting the war against drunk driving."
    The GHSP has produced radio public service messages to explain the law and
its consequences to motorists.  They will be heard on English- and Spanish-
stations this month.
    Other driving while impaired (DWI) laws that went into effect on July 1
include:

    * Reduce the legal alcohol concentration (AC) from 0.08 to 0.04 for
      persons who have been convicted of one DWI and have had their license
      reinstated.
    * Reduce the legal AC from 0.04 to 0.00 for persons who have been
      convicted of a second DWI and have had their license reinstated.