Open container clarification please

[pupdog]

I work in a winery (I know, wierd for an applicant). Today I had a huge group in a limo. Nice people. Anyway, beofre they left, one of them asked me to open a bottle of wine that they'd just bought. I declined, explaining that although none of them were driving, it's still an open container. One of them informed me that limos were exempt from such a thing. I explained that I was a CHP applicant, knew plently of the road laws and had never heard such a thing, and besides, from both a responsible business and applicant standpoint, could not be an accomplice to such a thing. Lucky for me they were nice about it, but they did inform me that they'd been drinking in the back of the limo earlier (if they'd been drunk or rude, I'd have been calling the 800 number!).
So, are the backs of limos exempt? To me that's just pushing a grey area if they are.

[bcjack]

It appears that CVC Section 23229 allows open containers in a limo, but not in the space where the driver has access to it.

[Mac]

It appears that CVC Section 23229 allows open containers in a limo, but not in the space where the driver has access to it.
Correct. See below:

23229. (a) Except as provided in Section 23229.1, Sections 23221
and 23223 do not apply to passengers in any bus, taxicab, or
limousine for hire licensed to transport passengers pursuant to the
Public Utilities Code or proper local authority, or the living
quarters of a housecar or camper.
(b) Except as provided in Section 23229.1, Section 23225 does not
apply to the driver or owner of a bus, taxicab, or limousine for hire
licensed to transport passengers pursuant to the Public Utilities
Code or proper local authority.

[pupdog]

Thanks! Of course, I'll still use my discretion in such situations. Eyes red? Acting too silly? No soup for you! Usually the limo crowd are such a pain in the...but at least they designate, so I don't have to baby-sitt them with water & breadsticks.

[SB 405]

I heard a story on the news about a week ago where some guy rented a limo down here in So. Cal to go out with his friends for his 30th birthday. Because of the number of people they rented one of these bus type rigs with the double doors that open much like a city bus. Seems this guy and his girlfriend were standing up in the back dancing when both of them stumbled and fall against the rear doors causing them to open and both being ejected onto the freeway. The girl scrambled over to the shoulder with minor injuries but her boyfriend was struck and killed by a DUI driver who fled to scene. They found the driver a few days later. Here's a guy trying to do the right thing by not drinking and driving and get's wacked anyway.

[Flying Pig]

Does being a CHP applicant somehow increase your knowledge of the vehicle code? I must have missed out during my applicant phase.

[pupdog]

That's why I asked. I'm just the applicant, what do I know? I don't know the details, just what I learned when I was a teenager, plus what I had in my criminal law class in college. But at my job, I take NO chances! Not only could the business be in heaps of trouble if something happened, but how would that look to my BI? Unfortunatly, there's too many wineries that don't realize these things. I was wine tasting once, and the girl working there was ready to have me try everything, and pouring me half a glass each time! HELLO!! I asked her how all the customers got to the winery. Yes, cars. And how will they be leaving? I guess she felt so 'protected' by the supposed upscaleness of wine, like those things don't happen to people like us! She just didn't seem to understand that this was alcohol she was serving!

[SB 405]

Hey pup ya know what's really a lot of fun? Telling someone who's been drinking all night (I work for a hotel in LA) that you've instructed the valet not to let them drive because IMO they are not able to operate a vehicle safely. Then stand back and get ready to be called every name in the book.

[SB 405]

Oh yeah one more thing....have a business card handy because they always want to call the corporate office.

[bcjack]

SB 405:

That rather upset person who was calling you every name in the book and got the corporate card is the same ass**** that will be looking for LARRY H. PARKER (you know...the "2.1 million" guy) when he crashes and gets a big case of TBC (Total Body Crunch) because you DIDN'T keep him from driving drunk. or...His heirs will contact "Larry H" because he's dead.

Keep up the good work and don't let the "Customers" that you stop from driving drunk get you down. You are contributing to the safety of everyone else using the roads when you do it...Thank you!!!:biggrin:

[SB 405]

And management will always back us up 100% when one of us makes the call on that which is nice. I've been cursed at,spit on,swing at and even shoved a time or two over the years but It's just something you need to roll with. Sometimes you even get a laugh out of it when things cool down. :lol:

[bcjack]

SB 405:

Does Management REALLY back you 100%???? I sure hope so...:biggrin:

[SB 405]

SB 405:

Does Management REALLY back you 100%???? I sure hope so...:biggrin:

As long as I keep my cool and don't do or say something stupid,they have my back.

[BoySergeant]

In this situation it sounds like you used your best judgment and erred on the side of caution. Nothing wrong with that. Keeping ETOH from the motoring public is good practice. But, if you are so fortunate to graduate from the beloved academy, you'll have to temper throwing down the chippie thing when you're off-duty. There is this little thing called a 'nexus' the department hates to see created between anyone that's not on the clock and a situation that goes south and could put the patrol in unfavorable light. I have no doubt they'll school you properly when you're at the academy. Just think, something for you to look forward to! :biggrin: