Texas law enforcement agencies work aggressively to stop drunk driving, and to that end the State of Texas has an “open container” law that makes it a crime to have an opened alcoholic beverage inside a motor vehicle. But will the state go so far as to criminally charge you if the vehicle is parked? […]
Overview of Open Container Laws in Texas In general, it is legal for someone to possess an open container of alcohol in public. The main exception to this rule is the ban on open containers in the passenger area of a motor vehicle while it is on a public road. Inside of a car, neither […]
If a police officer pulls a driver over for a traffic violation and spots an open container of beer next to said driver, the odds are pretty good the officer will also issue a citation for an open container violation. Texas law is pretty clear on this point. A person commits a Class C misdemeanor–essentially […]
Anyone in Texas who is facing open container charges needs to take the charges extremely seriously, regardless of whether or not the charges accompany a DWI arrest. To be sure, even an open container violation on its own—regardless of whether you have been accused of drunk driving—can result in you having a criminal record in […]
If you are facing charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas, you may already know that you can face substantial penalties in the event of a conviction. While it might not seem particularly serious to have “open container” charges added onto a DWI, it is critical to understand that an open container charge is […]
In Texas, being accused of committing an open container violation can have serious repercussions. Fortunately, it is possible to get these kinds of charges removed from one’s criminal record. If you were recently accused of having an open container of alcohol in your vehicle and have questions about the permanency of the resulting criminal record, […]
The short answer to this question is no. Drivers in Texas cannot be arrested merely for committing an open container violation. If, however, a person were accused of an open container violation, as well as a DWI, he or she could face arrest. In either case, an open container violation shouldn’t be taken lightly, so […]
Texas is well-known for having some of the strictest laws in the nation when it comes to driving while under the influence. For instance, those who have an open container of alcohol in their vehicle, even if they haven’t been drinking, could face misdemeanor charges. This is true even if nothing has been consumed from […]
Having an open container of alcohol in one’s vehicle won’t significantly affect the severity of the penalties that a person faces if convicted of driving while intoxicated. Being in possession of an open container can, however, hurt a person’s DWI case in many ways. If you were recently arrested for DUI or DWI in Houston, […]
Motorists in Texas are prohibited from possessing an open container of alcohol, not only while driving but also while parked or stopped, as long as the vehicle is located on a public road. Although many people don’t realize it, this prohibition applies to anyone who is sitting in a passenger area, even if they never […]
