Montana legislature considers bill to ban drinking and driving

[A18]

It is already against the law to be drunk while driving, but it is currently legal to drink alcohol while driving -- as long as the driver doesn't get legally intoxicated. The proposed laws would ban having an open container of alcohol in a moving vehicle.

http://lp.org/lpnews/0504/montana-drinking.html

Is this a good idea? I of course say no.

[7,052,770]

it's probably not a good idea to be drinking alcohol while driving beacuse you:
a. won't be paying total attention to the road
b. have the potential to become drunk

[The Duke]

I'm stunned that there is no such law already.

[The Dowager Mod]

43 states already have open container laws.

[A18]

No reason to extend the loss of freedom any further.

[Redefeatbush04]

No reason to extend the loss of freedom any further.

Even if it may save countless lives?

[Gabu]

No reason to extend the loss of freedom any further.

Having an open drink spill in your lap due to a speedbump or whatever has been known to cause fatal accidents.  Given that your liberty to swing your fist ends at my nose, I wouldn't exactly say that making something illegal when it has caused deaths in the past is an undue restriction of freedom.

There's nothing in the Constitution that says you're allowed to drive in a car with an open drink next to you.

[A18]

The point is, we all have to fund the roads, so they should be as unrestrictive as possible.

Would you honestly favor banning all drinks? What about cellphones? What about eating while driving?

There are better ways to save lives. For example, I would be in favor of making everyone convicted of driving while intoxicated put a different colored license plate on the back of their cars in order to make them stand out, and so people can look out for them.

It's also embarrassing, so it's a deterrent.

It certainly isn't unconstitutional, just bad. Of course, I guess if I was a liberal, I would take it to the Supreme Court, and say the state of Virginia was violating my "liberty" under the fourteenth amendment like the abortionists did.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I'm stunned that there is no such law already.

^^^

[opebo]

No reason to extend the loss of freedom any further.

Even if it may save countless lives?

I agree with A18 on this one. 

[JohnFKennedy]

I'm stunned that there is no such law already.

^^^

^^

[A18]

So would you support banning using cell phones, soft drinks, and eating while driving?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

So would you support banning using cell phones, soft drinks, and eating while driving?

Yes

[Alcon]

So would you support banning using cell phones, soft drinks, and eating while driving?

I'm fine with tickets, but not arrest. This endangers other people in a situation they cannot reasonably avoid.

[Joe Republic]

So would you support banning using cell phones, soft drinks, and eating while driving?

Yes

Me too.  All it takes is one tiny lapse of concentration.  Answering your phone, spilling your drink, or burning your tongue on a hot burrito, and BAM! - you've just killed a person.

As for this particular bill, I obviously support it.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Countless people lose their RIGHT TO LIVE because some people think their right to have an open container of alcohol in their car is more important.  i'm surprised Montana hasn't passed something like this already.  A car with an intoxicated driver is the equivelent of missile IMO, just too dangerous.