Is it illegal (in NY) to have alcohol in your TRUNK if you are under 21?

Question

I was stopped once by a police officer on a traffic violation, he asked if he can look in the trunk, I didn't think it was illegal to have beer in the TRUNK and he said since I was under 21 (20) I cannot have it, so he made me spill it out on the side of the road. I want to know if next time I have some beer in my trunk if I can get in even more trouble for having it there like get arrested or something?

Answer 1

Having alcohol in your trunk is possession of alcohol which is illegal if you are under age. I suppose it could be different if there were an older passenger in the car who could claim it as his.

Answer 2

Next time you get stopped, if you have a key lock trunk- Tell him that you don't have the key to open it. And your rights are protected being an american- just like JAy-Z said- Your gonna need a search Warrant for that. That is that same with the glove compartment. I don't know if the law is as different in NY then it is in MN but that is what my friend did, and that stopped him from getting ticketed.

If you don't have a key lock, then either don't risk it by putting booze in your trunk- leave it at home- or always make sure you have your friends' who get you the booze- come with you home so if you DO get stopped again you don't have to worry about it. OR wait til you are 21. I have until September still so I know what I am talking about. :) Good Luck

Answer 3

Yes, however, a police officer cannot search your trunk unless he has probable cause and you give him permission to search your trunk. He could only have looked inside your car, not inside the trunk. You could have told him no if he asked you if he could look inside the trunk, since he didn't have probable cause or a search warrant.

Answer 4

Yes. Because u r under 21, and it doesn't matter if it is in the trunk, or anywhere, u shouldn't be having it.

Answer 5

yes it was illegal to have it in your trunk because you are under 21, ut when he asked if he could look in your trunk and you say no he cant do a thing about it.

Answer 6

Yes, you are a minor in possession of alcohol.

New York code:

§ 65-c. Unlawful possession of an alcoholic beverage with the intent to consume by persons under the age of twenty-one years. 1. Except as hereinafter provided, no person under the age of twenty-one years shall possess any alcoholic beverage, as defined in this chapter, with the intent to consume such beverage.

Answer 7

If it was unopened it should have been fine
If somehting is in the trunk you do not have to let them look
they need a search warrant to look in there
You shoul dhave told him you were brinign it to your parent sparty for your mom or somehting, since you let him look in the trunk
next itme don't
Just say no

Answer 8

No. you need to be 18 to hold/transport/very own unopened alcohol. If it have been open, confident. yet having unopened alcohol isn't unlawful. via unopened I mean--- seal isn't broken. If the seal is broken, this is seen open and which would be unlawful. this is why you're allowed to artwork in a liquor keep at 18...

Answer 9

Yes it's still illegal. The alcohol is in your possession no matter where it is in the vehicle.

Answer 10

unless you have someone of legal age with you, you can have cases in your vehicle. but one open container or empty will get you in alot of trouble. no one under the legal age in any state can transport and booze of anykind without an adult in the vehicle.