Montana’s Law About Drinking Alcohol In Your Car Is Informative
You might want to rethink letting folks drink in your car.
Montana Laws
Big Sky Country is a wild place to live.
We have covered some interesting laws that still exist in Montana.
READ MORE: Can You Bury Your Loved One In Your Backyard in Montana?
Montana has some old laws dealing with mowing your laws on Sundays, fishing alone, or livestock riding shotgun in a vehicle.
How did they come up with these laws? It's weird.
One law that always comes up in conversations is about open containers.
Open Container Laws in Montana
You might want to refresh yourself on this law.
Most people believe Montana is one of the few states that allows open containers of alcohol in vehicles, and that is partially right.
The law allows open containers, but only in certain situations.
Montana Ordinance 61-8-1026 clearly states that if you are in a motor vehicle, the driver is not allowed to have an open container of alcohol in their possession at any point. If you have an open alcoholic beverage, you could receive a fine of up to $100.
What about passengers in your car?
That's where things get interesting.
Passengers are allowed open containers for certain vehicles.
Open containers are not allowed in a truck, SUV, or car.
Open containers are allowed in a bus, limo, or taxi.
History of Open Containers Laws in Montana
You might want to learn when Montana enacted this law because it's still relatively new.
Most states enacted open container laws during the 1980s and 90s, but Montana didn't make this law official until 2005.
Why? It's simple.
Alcohol-related driving deaths.
Between 2002 and 2003, Montana was the highest in the nation for alcohol-related driving deaths and accidents, and the state needed to make a change.
Since 2005, road accidents and deaths have dropped significantly.
The next time a buddy wants to drink in your car, you might want to update them on Montana law.
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