No more drinking and driving in Mont.
Governor to sign law outlawing a cold one behind the wheel
The Associated Press
April 8, 2005

HELENA, Mont. - Some Montana motorists, the joke goes, measure distances driven by how many beers they can down along the way. But the long-cherished right to have a cold one behind the wheel is about to end.

State lawmakers passed an open-container ban Friday that makes Montana one of the last states to outlaw drinking while driving.

The Montana House approved the bill 76-21 and sent it to Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who has said he will sign it. It takes effect Oct. 1.

Getting used to prohibition
The delay is designed to let Montanans get used to the prohibition, which until now had been found only in cities and towns, not out on the open highway.

Only Mississippi now lacks a state law against open containers, though many cities and counties there also prohibit open containers locally.

While Montana had stood to lose $5 million a year in federal highway funds if it failed to pass the law, the debate focused on balancing safety and personal freedom.

Montana has the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Cultural change
This is one of those laws that will start the cultural change that we need on the highways of Montana. We hope that just the existence of the law will make a difference, said Lt. Col. Mike Tooley, deputy chief of the Montana Highway Patrol.

University of Montana sociologist Jim Burfeind said the state s holdout status was understandable, given the long, lonely drives often required when only 927,000 people live in a state the size of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio combined.

We think we re a very different place than other places and that we don t have to run by the rules that other people have to in more congested areas, Burfeind said.

To muster enough support for the bill, supporters accepted what some consider weak penalties for violations. A driver caught with an open container faces a $100 fine, and the offense does not show up on a person s driving record.

so there are still states that allow drunk driving?

so there are still states that allow drunk driving?


not anymore from the looks of it.  strange to think anyone would be opposed to it, but then again, not everyone has had to deal with drunk people. 

not anymore from the looks of it. 

The article says only Mississippi still allows drinking while driving.  So there is still one state.

The article says only Mississippi still allows drinking while driving. So there is still one state.


Why the 'thumbs down'?

Yeah, you shouldn't drink and drive-you might hit a bump and spill your drink.  :D





Cat

The article says only Mississippi still allows drinking while driving.  So there is still one state.

Ah, Mississippi, where you can't get reproductive health counseling, but you CAN drink a six-pack behind the wheel!  That's my kinda place!

Neither state allowed "drunk" driving, I mean you could drink, you just couldn't get "drunk."  You had to  know when to say when!
I guess Mississippi STILL allows it, but they'll probably ban it so as not to be the only one left, like they were with prohibiting slavery.

Cat wrote Yeah, you shouldn't drink and drive-you might hit a bump and spill your drink. 
Yup, popular bumper sticker in the '80s!
;D

Ah, Mississippi, where you can't get reproductive health counseling, but you CAN drink a six-pack behind the wheel!  That's my kinda place!

Neither state allowed "drunk" driving, I mean you could drink, you just couldn't get "drunk."  You had to  know when to say when!
I guess Mississippi STILL allows it, but they'll probably ban it so as not to be the only one left, like they were with prohibiting slavery.

Cat wrote Yup, popular bumper sticker in the '80s!
;D


I don't think Mississippi ever formally ratified the Emancipation Proclamation..crappy state. Its THE poorest in the Union as well.

If it weren't for them, Louisiana would be last in everything. ;D

I don't think Mississippi ever formally ratified the Emancipation Proclamation..crappy state. Its THE poorest in the Union as well.

If it weren't for them, Louisiana would be last in everything. ;D

I thought they had ratified it...in the 1990s, about the same time as they took slavery off the books!
I mean, the point was moot anyway.  The 13th Amendment supercedes state laws.  Funny how white Southerners so much like to talke about "states' rights," except, of course, concerning gay marriage and the Florida Supreme Court in the 2000 election, Terri Schiavo....
MS is the poorest state per capita, but poverty pockets get severe in all states, the South is just more notorious.  I would love to travel through there.  There are actually a lot of interesting things in that state if you know where to look!

I thought they had ratified it...in the 1990s, about the same time as they took slavery off the books!
I mean, the point was moot anyway. The 13th Amendment supercedes state laws. Funny how white Southerners so much like to talke about "states' rights."
MS is the poorest state per capita, but poverty pockets get severe in all states, the South is just more notorious.  I would love to travel through there.  There are actually a lot of interesting things in that state if you know where to look!


Yes, there are. I've travelled all throughout the deep south states(Louisiana, Missiissippi and Alabama). Its not all bad. Especially Lousiana.

Gulfport and Buloxi in Mississippi are both nice little cities, same for Mobile in Alabama.

I will never deeny that I like to take a drink or 2, but while driving?  Unthinkable, not just for my own and my passangers' safty, but for other drivers and pedestrians as well.  Good for Montana  :)

I guess Mississippi STILL allows it, but they'll probably ban it so as not to be the only one left, like they were with prohibiting slavery.



I highly doubt that.  Saying "well, you're the only state" doesn't work.  Look at gay "marriage" and Massachusetts!

crappy state.

That's low.  The people are friendly and generous, the food is great, the schools rank decently in education despite not having a state lottery (the place last in education in America is Washington DC,) and the low taxes bring in all kinds of new business like an Oreck factory and a toyota factory.  Unemployment is low.  And they are (posted this earlier) number one when it comes to donating to charity despite being the poorest state.  It's a great state.  Probably number three on my list on my list of the best states.

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:CpaichHXpAoJ:www.flags2000.com.au/images/us25_large.gif
Long live Mississippi!

The fact is, like the article I posted pointed out, is that there is a big difference between drinking and driving in Montana and states like New York and California.  There are three times more cows in Montana then people!  Out of rural highway roads you're not going to crash into anyone.  This was just a move by Montana to get federal higway funds back while still letting their people drink while driving.  They won't enforce (hell out in rural Montana, they probably can't.)  And look at that penalty for getting caught.  It's a good compromise bill to say the least.

I highly doubt that. Saying "well, you're the only state" doesn't work. Look at gay "marriage" and Massachusetts!

That's low. The people are friendly, the food is great, the people are generous family farmers. It's a great state. Probably number three on my list.



Two people who love eachother, and are partners in life. Sounds like marriage to me..

And as for MS, its true. Lots of ignorant people there, p!ss poor infrastructure, poor economy..but it does have redeeming values. I already said that. And I really feel that way about LOTS of states.

Two people who love eachother, and are partners in life. Sounds like marriage to me..



Marriage
(mar'ig) n.
The social institution under which a man and a woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.
-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 2004.

Now matter how much you don't like it, THAT is what marriage is.  And let's not turn this into yet another debate on gay "marriage."

And as for MS, its true. Lots of ignorant people there, p!ss poor infrastructure, poor economy..but it does have redeeming values. I already said that. And I really feel that way about LOTS of states.

Where are you getting you're information from?  The unemployment rate in Mississippi is 5.0%, which is lower than the nation's average of 5.2%.  The Mississippi chamber of commerce has one of the highest success rates in the nation.  Businesses (like written earlier) are moving to Mississippi, Toyota and Oreck are recent examples.

The people there are not ignorant.  Back away from the sterotypes.

Marriage
(mar'ig) n.
The social institution under which a man and a woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.
-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 2004.

Now matter how much you don't like it, THAT is what marriage is.  And let's not turn this into yet another debate on gay "marriage."



Why does it bother you for two men or two women to get marry? That doesn't affect your personal life. Move to Saudi Arabia, you'd be quite content there.

If I'm not mistaken, there is a gay marriage thread somewhere in this area, and I suggest that if some what to revive it, go there and do so.  This thread is about the insanity of allowing people to drive one ton + vehicles at high speeds while imbibing in alcholoic beverages.  GWB posted it, but didn't state an opinion.  I would be interested to learn wheather he and others are more interested in protecting the "rights" of some a-hole to get plastered while driving, or the safty of the rest of us who also have the right to safly use the roads WE pay for through gasoline taxes.  Its a question of the personal as opposed to the soicial.  Where do people stand?

If I'm not mistaken, there is a gay marriage thread somewhere in this area, and I suggest that if some what to revive it, go there and do so.  This thread is about the insanity of allowing people to drive one ton + vehicles at high speeds while imbibing in alcholoic beverages.  GWB posted it, but didn't state an opinion.  I would be interested to learn wheather he and others are more interested in protecting the "rights" of some a-hole to get plastered while driving, or the safty of the rest of us who also have the right to safly use the roads WE pay for through gasoline taxes.  Its a question of the personal as opposed to the soicial.  Where do people stand?


As I've already written, big difference between drinking while driving in Montana and in states like New York and California.

And as MaxwellSmart posted, you can drink while driving, but you can't drive drunk.  You have to know when to stop, and there was a legal limit of alcohol allowed in Montana just like every other state.

As I've already written, big difference between drinking while driving in Montana and in states like New York and California.

And as MaxwellSmart posted, you can drink while driving, but you can't drive drunk.  You have to know when to stop, and there was a legal limit of alcohol allowed in Montana just like every other state.


The big differance is that in Montana the likelihood is that you will kill youself and nobody else.  But that does have a social impact.  Who will support your  kids?  Who will pay for the hospital if you are not DATS?  Lots of companies demand drug tests for employees that will operate dangerous equipment.  A car/truck is a dangerous piece of equipment.  Why should not "We the People" demand the same, or a similar standard for those who whould operate dangerous equipment on our PUBLIC highways?  I guess you just don't get the notion of the "greater good".

Sorry guys to butt in but I was stunned by this thread. Are you telling me that... seriously, you can legally drive in at least ONE state in the USA while piling down the Jim Beam at the wheel and NOT get arrested for it ???

It's just that I've never driven a car drunk and if the opportunity is still there and you can guarantee that no-one will get hurt then I'd love to try that weaving around the road at high speed listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival on a desert highway at midnight before I die  8)

But seriously folks, I am amazed that you can do that anywhere in the USA !

Sorry guys to butt in but I was stunned by this thread. Are you telling me that... seriously, you can legally drive in at least ONE state in the USA while piling down the Jim Beam at the wheel and NOT get arrested for it ???

It's just that I've never driven a car drunk and if the opportunity is still there and you can guarantee that no-one will get hurt then I'd love to try that weaving around the road at high speed listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival on a desert highway at midnight before I die 8)

But seriously folks, I am amazed that you can do that anywhere in the USA !


Its a travesty! You could spill perfectly good Jim Beam Black(my favorite drink!). ;D

I know that was a lame repeat of a joke already done in this thread..

I highly doubt that.  Saying "well, you're the only state" doesn't work.  Look at gay "marriage" and Massachusetts!

That's low.  The people are friendly and generous, the food is great, the schools rank decently in education despite not having a state lottery (the place last in education in America is Washington DC,) and the low taxes bring in all kinds of new business like an Oreck factory and a toyota factory.  Unemployment is low.  And they are (posted this earlier) number one when it comes to donating to charity despite being the poorest state.  It's a great state.  Probably number three on my list on my list of the best states.

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:CpaichHXpAoJ:www.flags2000.com.au/images/us25_large.gif
Long live Mississippi!
Yeah, I hope so, and I'll give out a shout out to the other 49!  As far as "gay marriage," it's cool to be a Civil Rights pioneer!  Events of the last couple of centuries inform us!
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/kids/funfacts/flags/massachusetts_flag.jpg
Long live guys & guys and gals & gals!

The fact is, like the article I posted pointed out, is that there is a big difference between drinking and driving in Montana and states like New York and California.  There are three times more cows in Montana then people!  Out of rural highway roads you're not going to crash into anyone.  This was just a move by Montana to get federal higway funds back while still letting their people drink while driving.  They won't enforce (hell out in rural Montana, they probably can't.)  And look at that penalty for getting caught.  It's a good compromise bill to say the least.

If you're sober and responsible, then yeah, 110 in rural MT is OK with me.  Unfortunately, too many people hitting the roads are hitting the bottle (or are just stupid dumbf**ks).  Thing is, you can't have a crazy-azz Mad Max movie running around on the roads out there without giving law enforcement at least some tools to deal with it!  If you pull the dude over for going 150 mph, and the first thing that happens he gives the cops a lot of lip, saying "All them truckers is doin' it," and you just pulled him over because he had New York plates.  He won't even if hafta wipe the cocaine off his chin!  The cops can't just say, "You can't go 150 mph 'cuz that's what want!"  Well, maybe they could...anyhow.  It goes to court, and who knows? Maybe the dude wins!  So that's way I'm for posted speed limits, if for no other reason than to stop the realy crazies.  Of course, if Montana did their roads like the Massachusetts Turnpike--they'd have barresl, cones, sawhorses, lane closures, cops, trucks, and workers there apparently to do nothing every ten miles!  You couldn't ever get up to speed with all that hanky-panky goin' on every ten miles!
:D :P