[HISTORY: Derived from § 65-44 of the 1978 Code of the
Village of New Paltz, as amended by L.L. No. 23-1997. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
It is the intent of the Village of New Paltz, as an exercise of its
police power, to promote the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents
and inhabitants of the Village by enacting this chapter, since it is the finding
of the Board of Trustees that the possession of open containers of alcoholic
beverages by persons on certain public lands, except under controlled conditions,
is detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Village
in that such possession contributes to the development of unsanitary conditions
and the creation of nuisances, including, but not limited to, littering and
raucous or other disorderly behavior. It is further the intent of the Board
of Trustees that this chapter not be considered as a traffic regulation insofar
as it relates to motor vehicles or the operation thereof.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following shall have the meanings
ascribed to them. All other words shall have the meanings normally ascribed
to them in regular usage.
Includes alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer, cider and every liquid
or solid, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer capable
of being consumed by a human being.
Any bottle, can, glass or other receptacle suitable for, or used
to hold, any liquid.
Any highway, street, sidewalk, park or playground or any parking
lot of privately owned commercial or business premises, including apartment
building complexes, which is generally open to public motor vehicle traffic.
The Village of New Paltz.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to:
A.Â
Consume any alcoholic beverage on any public land within
the Village;
B.Â
Have in his possession any open container containing
any alcoholic beverage on any public lands within the Village; or
C.Â
Have within his possession for the purposes of consumption
on public lands by either himself or another person any open container containing
an alcoholic beverage on any public lands within the Village.
A.Â
The foregoing prohibition shall not apply in the event
of a fair, picnic or other community gathering for which special permission
has been granted by the Village.
B.Â
The foregoing prohibitions shall not apply to the transportation
of an unsealed but not open container across public lands of the Village from
one point to another, with no intent to consume the contents of such open
container while on public lands.
This chapter shall apply to all persons on public lands in the Village except as provided in § 66-4 above and shall not apply to any person drinking an alcoholic beverage while operating a motor vehicle on any public highway within the Village in violation of § 1227 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.
Each violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding
$250 for each offense. A violation of this chapter shall constitute disorderly
conduct, and any person violating the same shall be declared a disorderly
person.
Should any provisions of this chapter be judicially determined
to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
