Is it Legal to sit and drink alcohol in my car? (not drive it)

[janbaber64]

some laws need to be changed

[artisan]

Surely unless the keys are in the ignition, then the car is just a metal box.

It has no power to its controls or whatever.

But then again, unless the power was switched on, you would not be able play the radio, ergo, the keys must be in the ignition.

If you are found in a car, over the limit, with keys in the ignition, you would be on shakey ground indeed.

[Unidentified]

Surely unless the keys are in the ignition, then the car is just a metal box.

It has no power to its controls or whatever.

But then again, unless the power was switched on, you would not be able play the radio, ergo, the keys must be in the ignition.

If you are found in a car, over the limit, with keys in the ignition, you would be on shakey ground indeed.

 

 

unless i get the CD player wired up so it can be turned on without having the key in the car. done!

 

only question now is:

 

does one hide the keys close by outside the car (where the police cant find/see them)

 

OR

 

keep the keys on me, because they wont be in the ignition anyway?

[HeadingNorth]

Surely unless the keys are in the ignition, then the car is just a metal box.

It has no power to its controls or whatever.

But then again, unless the power was switched on, you would not be able play the radio, ergo, the keys must be in the ignition.

If you are found in a car, over the limit, with keys in the ignition, you would be on shakey ground indeed.

 

If the keys are in the ignition they can probably nail you for driving under the influence - even if the engine was switched off. (I know that in some US states, the law explicitly says as much).

 

If you are the person "in charge" of the car, it doesn't need to be moving, or keys in the ignition, for you to be done for drunk in charge; the car is your responsibility in that position, and you should not be drunk. This is similar to a person walking down the street with a six-inch carving knife hidden under his jacket; even though he has not actually stabbed anybody with it, he's still committing an offence.

[HeadingNorth]

unless i get the CD player wired up so it can be turned on without having the key in the car. done!

 

only question now is:

 

does one hide the keys close by outside the car (where the police cant find/see them)

 

OR

 

keep the keys on me, because they wont be in the ignition anyway?

 

Neither, because that would involve trying to conceal the fact you are committing an offence, instead of not committing one.

 

Leave the keys inside once you've opened the door.

[hard2miss]

The issue is simple, being drunk you are un predictable. Reasoning goes out of the window.

 

People set off for a good time when drinking and it soon can go from fun to miserable really easy. Why they don't allow drunks to have car keys and 'be in charge of a motor vehicle' is the same reason why we have gun laws and no one is allowed a gun unless authorised to.

You can argue all day that until there's a crime committed your innocent but some laws are made to be pre emptive and stop things before they happen, this is the case with being in charge with keys while drunk and being in possession of a gun. Both can have the potential of killing indiscriminately and its that fact why the law as it is.

 

Its not hard to understand or unreasonable at all, its highly logical.

[artisan]

The issue is simple, being drunk you are un predictable. Reasoning goes out of the window.

 

People set off for a good time when drinking and it soon can go from fun to miserable really easy. Why they don't allow drunks to have car keys and 'be in charge of a motor vehicle' is the same reason why we have gun laws and no one is allowed a gun unless authorised to.

You can argue all day that until there's a crime committed your innocent but some laws are made to be pre emptive and stop things before they happen, this is the case with being in charge with keys while drunk and being in possession of a gun. Both can have the potential of killing indiscriminately and its that fact why the law as it is.

 

Its not hard to understand or unreasonable at all, its highly logical.

 

Exactly, if you are canned up, leave the keys on the corniche

[artisan]

If the keys are in the ignition they can probably nail you for driving under the influence - even if the engine was switched off. (I know that in some US states, the law explicitly says as much).

 

If you are the person "in charge" of the car, it doesn't need to be moving, or keys in the ignition, for you to be done for drunk in charge; the car is your responsibility in that position, and you should not be drunk. This is similar to a person walking down the street with a six-inch carving knife hidden under his jacket; even though he has not actually stabbed anybody with it, he's still committing an offence.

 

So if some one buys a carving knife they are defined by the police as a homicidal maniac?

[Thorpist]

The issue is simple, being drunk you are un predictable. Reasoning goes out of the window.

 

People set off for a good time when drinking and it soon can go from fun to miserable really easy. Why they don't allow drunks to have car keys and 'be in charge of a motor vehicle' is the same reason why we have gun laws and no one is allowed a gun unless authorised to.

You can argue all day that until there's a crime committed your innocent but some laws are made to be pre emptive and stop things before they happen, this is the case with being in charge with keys while drunk and being in possession of a gun. Both can have the potential of killing indiscriminately and its that fact why the law as it is.

 

Its not hard to understand or unreasonable at all, its highly logical.

 

A scenario to think about.

You go for a stroll to the pub a couple of pints later head home,the car is parked outside your home on arriving home the door and car key are on the same fob does this make you drunk in charge

[Nagel]

Why would you want to sit in your car and drink alcohol? It's not exactly the best environment. Better go to a bar or pub, or drive home and have a drink there.