More Tickets for Stoop Drinkers
Despite, or maybe because of, the publicity generated by our post a couple of weeks ago and the subsequent NY Times article, tickets for drinking on stoops continue. A tipster sent us this note: “Tuesday night, Sept. 9th, myself and three friends were ticketed $45 each for drinking three beers (one of us was not…
Despite, or maybe because of, the publicity generated by our post a couple of weeks ago and the subsequent NY Times article, tickets for drinking on stoops continue. A tipster sent us this note: “Tuesday night, Sept. 9th, myself and three friends were ticketed $45 each for drinking three beers (one of us was not actually drinking, and there were only three beers open) citing that we were visible from the street when the police drove by. Just wondering how much this has been happening lately. We all plan to contest the ruling, but wondering how much we would spend on court costs. The house on Quincy between Bedford and Nostrand [in the photo above] has a three to four foot overhang from the second floor deck, which we were under, definitely not a public place.” According to the Times piece, “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.” Access seems to be the gray word, here. A stoop is visible to the public, but accessible? What do you think? Should we fight for our right to party?
“myself and three friends” DIBS. No more coffee for you!
I haven’t read the particular law, but the stoop, or whatever, up to the property line is private property. The police have no business doing anything other than responding to private complaints on private property.
Someone, please correct me if I am wrong, otherwise, lets get an organized group going to fight this overstep.
Fight it! They need to change the law. It’s not working.
funny, diego
as for these tickets, totally ridiculous.
You should learn how to use the word “myself” in a sentence. It should be “my three friends and I.” I think you should be fined for that as well.
The part about three beers being open and of the three of you one was not drinking sounds hokey. Already holes in your case!!!!! What kind of beer were you drinking???
If there’s a gate separating your stoop/front of bldg from the street, then you can drink it up?
In the prior story the fine was only $25. What’s the deal on this as well??
Maybe if you let that ivy grow down a bit to cover the front porch you’d get away with it!!
Dow opens down 130!!!
NYC Finance is reaching. Don’t block the box!