Jefferson County, MO Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited act
- Being intoxicated in a public place
- Covers
- Streets, hotels, restaurants, public buildings
- Applies
- Unincorporated Jefferson County only
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 1 year jail
- Separate offense
- Underage possession under §205.180
Summary
Jefferson County makes it unlawful to be intoxicated on a street, in a place of amusement, hotel, restaurant, public building, or other public place anywhere in the unincorporated county, a standalone offense separate from underage possession or DWI, prosecuted in county Municipal Court.
A person shall not be in a state of intoxication on any street, highway, thoroughfare, place of amusement, hotel, motel, restaurant, public building, or other public place in the unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Missouri.
Full Breakdown
190, Public Intoxication, prohibits any person from being in a state of intoxication on any street, highway, thoroughfare, place of amusement, hotel, motel, restaurant, public building, or other public place in the unincorporated area of Jefferson County. 200, the marijuana possession ban. 190 turns on the state of intoxication itself rather than on carrying an open container, an officer does not need to see a person drinking in public to cite them; visible signs of intoxication in a public place are enough to support the charge.
The ordinance reaches only the unincorporated area; inside Arnold, Festus, De Soto, Hillsboro, Pevely and the county's other cities, municipal police enforce that city's own public intoxication or open-container code instead of this county section.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Section 205.190 are prosecuted as misdemeanors in Jefferson County Municipal Court by the County Municipal Prosecutor and are subject to the General Penalty, Section 100.030: a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in the county jail, or both. Each day a violation continues is chargeable as a separate offense under the general penalty provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is carrying an open beer on the street illegal under this section?
Does this apply to someone drinking at home?
What is the penalty for a first public intoxication citation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
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