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Rock Talk, Vol. IX
Big news on the gubernatorial trail this weekend: Independent hopeful Kinky Friedman apparently violated the state's open container law when he drank a beer while riding in a St. Patrick's Day parade car in Dallas on Saturday. (OK, it isn't really such big news, but Houstonist can't pass up a chance to use the word "gubernatorial.") Friedman was serving as the parade's grand marshal; at some point during the festivities, it seems someone passed him a can of Guinness and he took a sip. As he explained:
"Guinness is the drink that kept the Irish from taking over the world. It would be unthinkable not to have a Guinness during a St. Patrick's Day parade. In fact, it would be spiritually wrong."
Thing is, state law prohibits people from having open alcoholic drinks in the passenger area of a vehicle. Though news photos seemed to show Friedman drinking the Guinness, police didn't see it happen, so he wasn't ticketed. Fellow independent gov hopeful Carole Keeton Strayhorn had no comment; she was probably busy with a can of Schlitz. (No, we don't know if Strayhorn drinks — but if she does, we know she chooses the best.)
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No one has explored the fact that it was a permitted parade. You are allowed to brake other state laws while in a parade (most notably inspection requirements), is the beer-in-a-car regulation applicable?
Possible paradees everywhere need to know.
Good question. According to this open container law FAQ, "If you are in a car with an open container of alcohol on a public road, you are breaking Texas law." So I suppose that applies to parades, too, regardless of permits.