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www.austincounsel.com]
Gives you the down and dirty.
Interesting note #1: You can drink in a Taxi or bus. (Limo seems obvious)
#2: I do, however, believe this is a fairly new addition. I remember quite distinctly driving my grandfather into town while he sat shotgun and drank beers. Right past the PD in fact. Then again, I was 12-14, so if we were breaking the law with me driving then no reason he would avoid breaking it on the open container law.
#3: According to what I read there, you don't even necessarily get taken in for it. However, I would assume this lax treatment applies to someone who accidently left their half-full bottle of Jack Daniel's in the back seat and hasn't actually been drinking.
I think the misconception comes from that it MAY have been legal not too long ago. I have nothing to back that up. I also believe it was only legal for the passenger to have an open container. Then again, "Oh shit, I'm getting pulled over. Here, hold my beer so I'm not charged with an open container.