Gov. Bill Owens has signed a bill into law banning consumption and possession of open containers of alcohol in vehicles traveling Colorado?s public roadways.
The new law, previously HB1122, also frees up millions in federal dollars for improving Colorado roads.
Colorado law had prohibited drivers from having an open alcoholic beverage, but passengers 21 years of age or older are free to drink while in a moving vehicle.
The new ban eliminates the open container provision. The new law goes into effect July 1 this year.
Violators could be fined $57.80.
Exceptions are made for passengers in limousines and recreational vehicles.
Until now, Colorado has been forced to spend a portion of its federal highway money on traffic safety because it didn?t have a ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles.
The federal government mandated in 2001 that states pass such provisions or spend a percentage of federal highway dollars on traffic safety projects.
Since then, $29 million in transportation money has been diverted from Colorado roads for such uses as installing cables to prevent crossover accidents and drunken driving checkpoints, the Legislature?s Web site reported.