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Stoop Drinking: The Saga Continues
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 8, 2008
Modified Sep 8, 2008
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 8, 2008
Modified Sep 8, 2008
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Looks like there's going to be a lot more ink put down on the whole public drinking debate, The NY Times has now talked to Kimber VanRy--the man ticketed two weeks ago for having a beer on his stoop. At the time VanRy said he would likely just pay the fine, but after all the attention he's now pleading not-guilty at a November court appearance.
“I think this is a real gray area. I don’t think I was doing anything wrong.” He questioned the notion that his stoop is considered a “public place” as defined by the law. “It’s one of those laws that a lot of people know it’s there, but how heavily it should be enforced is a question."
The gray area comes partially from Mayor Bloomberg himself, who stated that uncorking a bottle of wine for a concert in the park is a-okay by him, not to mention he was photographed this past May drinking a glass of wine at Brooklyn Bridge Park!
Currently, "the city’s open-container law prohibits anyone from drinking an alcoholic beverage, or possessing and intending to drink from an open container containing an alcoholic beverage, in any public place. The law defines a public place as one 'to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, including, but not limited to,' a sidewalk, street or park." If one is caught drinking in public without a permit (at a blockparty, etc) then that person faces a fine of $25 or five days behind bars.
Original stoop photo via colorstalker's flickr.
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brooklyn
law
open container
pubic drinking
stoop
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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