Carrying alcohol in the RV

[wa8yxm]

Laws vary from state to state, however when it comes to a can, bottle or other container which is clearly factory sealed and which has never been opened.

How you supposed to get it home from the liquor store? "Beam Me Up Scotty"?

[Wayne M]

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Someone can correct me, but I have heard there is one county in Mississippi that is dry and the cops will stop RV's and levy a big fine if they find alcohol. Just what I heard. Other than that, no, don't believe there are any problems.

Guess I stand corrected:
MIssissippi Law (May not be up-to-date.)

You can find other state laws on this page also.

And then there is this:

by David J. Hanson, Ph.D.
"Today, almost one-half of the counties in Mississippi are dry with their own prohibition against the production, advertising, sale, distribution, or transportation of alcoholic beverages within their boundaries. It is even illegal to bring alcohol through a dry county in Mississippi while traveling across the country in the process of, for example, moving a personal wine or spirits collection to one's new residence"

Full information HERE

[Kjlunda]

Originally Posted by scottandjean

I have a question regarding carrying alcohol in the RV. Full -sealed beer cans. Open liquor bottles in the cupboard. Empty beer cans. I usually will get rid of any empty beer cans prior to traveling. However, there are cold ones in the frig. State to State what are the laws? - Has anyone had any problems with law enforcement on this? I'd appreciate any comments.
Thanks
Scott

If the RV is used for commercial purposes, I.E. hauling a trailer with a race car, Motorcycles for racing, snowmobiles for racing (see the pattern), it is illegal to have alcohol in any part of the RV or trailer. The driver has to meet all commercial driver laws, and the state DOT can inspect without a warrant.
I was told that most officers won't try to ticket as long as it isn't within the driver's reach.

[baraff]

Originally Posted by LindaH

No.

The only problem you may encounter is if you get stopped by law enforcement and they find an opened can/bottle within reach of the driver.

I think the bolded text says it all.....

[bdpreece]

I find the best solution is to just consume everything the night before I am scheduled to leave.

[Wayne M]

I'm really just not going to worry about it. I'm not going to tell any of you when I'm leaving, or where I'm going.

I know, I know! You can tell me where to go, and I'll probably be happy to be on my way, and I also know where I'm going if I don't change my ways.

[Alan_Hepburn]

Originally Posted by dsbike

I have lived in dry counties in NC. This how it is in NC, You can have possesion of alchol but you can not sell or buy alcohol in the county. Don't know about the MS laws, but most areas that are dry means you can't buy it there, it does not mean you can't posses it in the county unless in a state or county public area. Of course the DUI or DWI is always in effect also. I never had a problem carrying it in the RV anywhere as long as it is not in the drivers or front passengers area.

Don't know about Mississippi, but the Jack Daniel's Distillery is in a dry county - the master distiller can't do a taste test of the product on-site - he needs to take the sample across the county line before he tastes it...

[Monacoach]

Your motor home is your home. It requires a search warrent to enter. Tell the officer to piss off w/o a warrent.

Try that at the border and they will search your rig top to bottom right after your cavity search.

[RickO]

Originally Posted by bjsheldon

Your motor home is your home. It requires a search warrent to enter. Tell the officer to piss off w/o a warrent.

Is this really true when your jacks are up... your slides are in and you're driving down the highway?

We traveled through the south last spring and, as a Calif native, I was really surprised to see how many private CGs had rules (local laws?) against having any alcohol outside of your rig! What would we do without the government being around to protect us from ourselves?

Rick

[powerboatr]

we see at many state and federal cg's that no alcohol can be consumed outside the rv

so like many they use insulated coffee mugs and add the beam and coke and go about life as normal
when i consumed we often had over three liters of beam and cases of dt. coke and cases of amber bock.


i for one would have issue with any leo wanting to search my rv. period, ever. they better have a very compelling reason to ask or require a search.

if your pulled over, meet them at the door outside with your info, simply dont give them a reason to be inside, even innocent folks go to jail because a leo "thought" they saw something they did not.
leo's arent perfect, and if your wrongly arrested....you still have to go to court and pay $$ to be free. then pay lawyers to set it right....where is the leo? he/she is at home free.
customs crossings are a whole nuther animal.
all the places we have been, we have never been pulled over or asked for a search.
there are also parts of the ADA that protect disabled persons from over zealous leo's
your domicile is where you lay your head, regardless of its rolling or fixed.
this gives you some added protection, not much but some. especially if you are being accosted by a bad guy/girl

all in all your attitude if stopped, sets the tone of what happens next.
always be polite, but vigil about your rights.
a town near us wants your ssn on tickets if your stopped.....NOPE not from this guy. they already have your dl# and address? why a ssn? he said as a second form of ID. pure bologna. in tx your dl will give them everything they need to know.

[Bob86ZZ4]

Originally Posted by bjsheldon

Your motor home is your home. It requires a search warrent to enter. Tell the officer to piss off w/o a warrent.

Not exactly. The courts have handed down many rulings that a motor vehicle, or trailer, does not have the same legal standings as a home. There are exceptions to the warrant requirements and motor vehicles are some of them.

I've been a cop in a mid size town for 26 years. I've been a street cop the entire time. I can't ever remember pulling over a rv. I wouldn't worry about having open containers in an rv. I don't drink but I encourage my passengers to enjoy responsibly while we're on the road. I've never gone to Canada but I've gone on a couple of military bases and been asked about the alcohol on board. Wasn't a problem having it tho.

[Helotes2010]

Having spent some time in Atlanta the Coke capital I'm often offended when I see someone driving whiule drinking a pepsi