Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 17:06:15 -0400
Reply-To: Matthew Bulley <gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Matthew Bulley <gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com>
Subject: Re: Alcohol Consmption In Westies!
I had a discussion with a friend who is a lawyer (here in NC). This was his
take on it here in NC.
The Westy is NOT a "house car" by NC standards because it is not a
self-contained dwelling: it lacks a functional fixed commode. I asked "What
about the porta-potty?"
He said. "Chancy." The law said something to the effect of "fixed" as in
"installed/permanent". If it were fixed, open bottles would be allowed in
the back seats only, out of the driver's reach. When stopped, you could
have one anywhere except the driver's seat (even if it were pivoted). That
was his take, but there is only one vehicle on the road JUST LIKE a Westy,
so the courts would have to do some chin rubbing if you pressed your luck.
It was also murky about where one could have an open container in the
Westy, since ALL of the storage in the van is accessible when the vehicle
is going down the road (unlike the trunk of a regular car, where you can
have all the open booze you choose).
As it turns out, however, all of this info is now obsolete, as the Feds
have mandated that states tighten their open container laws (or else they
turn of the faucet for those sprawl-inducing highway funds). I don't think
you can even think about alcohol when standing near your vehicle. (which, I
suppose is good).
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Mount Olive, NC USA
877.658.1278 Tollfree
www.bulley-hewlett.com
My Agenda: Stop Suburban Sprawl.
My Methods: Revitalize older, highly-dense, urban towns. Champion
mass/rapid transit and fast Internet service to these towns. Demand
replacement of archaic, "separationist" zoning laws with neo-traditional
dense/mixed use zoning.
The Result: All Americans obtain superior living opportunities; sprawl is
restrained; and dense, beautiful, interlinked towns become our children's
inheritance.
Find out more at http://www.cnu.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Christensen [SMTP:brent@vanagon.com]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 4:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fw: Alcohol Consmption In Westies!
Here's an interesting question that was posted to me via www.vanagon.com.
Anyone have any practical experience with this one?
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Omega Boys Club
> To: info@vanagon.com
> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 12:16 PM
> Subject: Alcohol Consmption In Westies!
>
>
> Hi I drive a '85 westy weekender in California. I like to go campin and
> occasionally drink a bottle of wine with friends in the back... My van
has
> these stickers on the passenger door just above the gas cap that state
that
> my vehicle complies with Recreational Vehicle laws and regulations etc.
A
> park ranger was givin' me hassles last weekend about having an open
> container in my van (RV). Do you know the laws about having open
containers
> in a RV (if in fact a westy is really considered a RV legally). Can I
have
> open containers in the closets, in the open, being consumed in the rear
> (parked or in motion), etc.
>
> I think this is an important topic that all Westy owners should carry a
copy
> in their glove box to prove the law if need be to police, rangers, etc.
if
> the problem occurs. The general public considers westies vans where
legally
> I think we (owners) need to be informed on how we as RV owners should be/
> can be treated differently (and avoid costly fines!).
>
> Thank you very much!!!
> ~Chuck
>
>