[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Bedford 5-31-1977 as L.L. No. 1-1977. Section 31-6 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Cabarets — See Ch. 44.
Recreational facilities — See Ch. 97.
A. 
The Town of Bedford recognizes that consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places must be adequately controlled so as to prevent public disorder, nuisances, littering and other acts and conditions detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the town, and this chapter is intended to provide such control and regulation.
B. 
The Town Board finds that possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage in a public place within the town has led to consumption of the same, resulting in public intoxication, disorderly conduct, disturbance of the public peace, littering of the public places and destruction of property. The Town Board finds further that preservation of the public weal and prevention of conditions which lead to conduct disturbing the public peace attributable to consumption of alcoholic beverages can be so accomplished by the prohibition of consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and by restricting the possession of an open or unsealed container of alcoholic beverages under circumstances which indicate that the possessor of such open or unsealed container in a public place intends to consume the same or intends to have in consumed by another person.
[Added 8-16-1983 by L.L. No. 2-1983]
As used herein, the following words shall have the meanings below set forth:
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
Includes all such beverages as defined in § 3 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law of the State of New York.
CONTAINER
Any bottle, can, glass, cup or similar receptacle suitable for, or used to hold, any liquid.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any highway, street, sidewalk, park, playground, parking lot, shopping center, mall, or any other place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, but excluding those public places wherein the use and consumption of alcoholic beverages is authorized pursuant to a license or permit issued under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.
[Amended 8-16-1983 by L.L. No. 2-1983]
No person shall consume or ingest any alcoholic beverage in any public place within the Town of Bedford. Carrying on the person, holding or possessing any open, unsealed, resealed or partially full bottle, can or container of an alcoholic beverage in a public place as hereinabove defined for the purpose of consuming such alcoholic beverage by such person or by another shall constitute prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
Any open, unsealed, resealed or partially full bottle, can or container which contains an alcoholic beverage found in any vehicle in any such public place shall be presumptive evidence that the same is in possession of all the occupants of said vehicle and in possession of the person last having control and custody of said vehicle.
The foregoing prohibition against drinking alcoholic beverages in public places or possessing open, unsealed, resealed or partially empty bottles, cans or containers of such alcoholic beverage shall not apply nor be a violation of this chapter in the event of a gathering which has been granted special permit by the Town Board of the Town of Bedford or its authorized official.
[Amended 5-1-1984 by L.L. No. 2-1984]
An offense against the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a violation under the Penal Law and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.) or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) days, or both.