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HARTFORD – It’s against the law for drivers in Connecticut to operate a motor vehicle while in possession of an open alcoholic beverage, but expansion of the the ban to also include all passengers is under consideration by the General Assembly.
Raised Bill No. 5917, “An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Zero Vision Council,” includes a provision which states, “No person shall consume or possess an open alcoholic beverage container within the passenger area of a motor vehicle while such motor vehicle is on any highway in this state.”
That means it would become verboten for passengers to imbibe. The ban would not extend to passengers in taxis, buses or vehicles used in livery service. The ban would also not apply to living quarters of a recreational vehicle.
According to the state Department of Transportation’s website, the Zero Vision Council “is an interagency work group tasked with developing statewide policy to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and severe injuries involving pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and passengers.”
The bill was referred on Wednesday to the Joint Committee on Transportation, which plans a public hearing at 9 a.m. Monday (Jan. 30) in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building.
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