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Montana Keeps Drinking, Driving Legal

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:06 am
by chadtm80
Montana Keeps Drinking, Driving Legal
POSTED: 5:15 p.m. EDT April 22, 2003

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana was one of the last states to raise the legal drinking age to 21.

Now, the state is one of the few that hasn't banned drinking while driving.


State lawmakers are about to go home without voting on a ban on open alcohol containers in vehicles.

One state representative says advocates of an open-container ban shouldn't try to change Montanans' attitudes about drinking and driving.

He said that if they don't like Montana's culture, they should go somewhere else.

The Montana Legislature did strengthen other laws dealing with drinking and driving this session. It lowered the blood-alcohol limit and made alcohol tests mandatory for drivers after serious accidents.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:32 am
by Amanzi
In MHO, All drinking and driving should be illegal and you should get thrown in jail if you get caught. Driving is a privelige not a right! A friend of mine lost her whole family (mother,father,brother and 2 sisters) because of a drunk driver, she is now an orphan and was the only one who survived the wreck. I dispise drunk drivers!

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:51 am
by JQ Public
:roll: it is time for them to come into the 21st century!

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:55 am
by wx247
I can't believe their State Rep. made that comment. What a loser! Obviously he doesn't fully realize what can happen. :roll:

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 12:00 pm
by chadtm80
I am disgusted with this... I despise Drinking and Driving as well Amanzi, and this is just unreal

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 12:45 pm
by Guest
I agree with the law - we have it here in Texas - but do you realize how many people still drink and drive - its really amazing.

I don't like it - but watch how many people stop off at a convenience store - get a beer and pop the top and start drinking and drive away.

Unless you have a sure fire way of enforcing it - it might deter a few.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 1:14 pm
by TexasStooge
Good thing I'm not living in Montana.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 1:26 pm
by ColdFront77
That doesn't make any sense. Drinking is one thing but 'keeping' drinking and driving legal really doesn't make any sense. :roll:

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 6:16 pm
by weatherlover427
That is an unsafe thing. :(

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2003 6:37 pm
by Derek Ortt
They are not allowing DWI. They are allowing one to have an open container, as long as they are below the legal limit. There is no difference to having one beer on a one hour ride as there is stopping at a bar, having a couple before the ride. It is a matter of how intoxicated one is and if one is not intoxicated, science has proven that there will not be an effect on the driving