Vanderburgh County, IN Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 10.60.096
- First offense fine
- $75
- Second offense fine
- $150
- Third+ offense fine
- $750
- Applies to
- golf carts & off-road vehicles on public streets
- Exception
- private property closed to public travel
- Adopted
- Ord. 08-25-013, 8/26/2025
Summary
Vanderburgh County Code 10.60.096 bars anyone operating or riding in a golf cart or off-road vehicle on a public street from carrying an open container of alcohol. The rule covers both the driver and any passenger, applies only on public streets, and exempts vehicles used exclusively on private property closed to public travel. Fines start at $75.
10.60.096 Open Alcoholic Beverages. (A) No person shall operate or be in physical control of an off-road vehicle or golf cart on any public street within Vanderburgh County while: (1) In possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage; or (2) A passenger is in possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage. (B) For the purposes of this section, an "open container" means any bottle, can, or other receptacle that: (1) Contains any amount of alcoholic beverage; and (2) Is open, has a broken seal, or from which some of the contents have been removed. (C) This section shall not apply to an off-road vehicle or golf cart being operated exclusively on private property not open to public travel.
Full Breakdown
096, adopted by Ordinance 08-25-013 on August 26, 2025 as part of the county's new golf cart and off-road vehicle chapter, makes it unlawful for a person to operate or be in physical control of a golf cart or off-road vehicle on any public street in Vanderburgh County while possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage, and it extends the same prohibition to any passenger riding along. The code defines an open container broadly: any bottle, can, or other receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage and is open, has a broken seal, or has had some of its contents removed counts, regardless of how little alcohol remains inside.
The only carve-out is for a golf cart or off-road vehicle operated exclusively on private property that is not open to public travel; once the vehicle reaches a public street, the ban applies. 140 and can also trigger additional enforcement under Indiana state law covering operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The chapter's other provisions reinforce the same public-safety goal: golf carts and off-road vehicles must stay off sidewalks and bike paths, must carry proper insurance and registration, and cannot be operated recklessly. This ordinance targets vehicle operation specifically; it does not create a freestanding ban on drinking in public parks, streets, or sidewalks on foot, which falls under Indiana's public intoxication statute rather than this county chapter.
Violations & Fines
First offense carries a $75 fine, a second offense escalates to $150, and a third or subsequent offense jumps to $750, per Section 10.60.140. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. Officers may also impound the golf cart or off-road vehicle under Section 10.60.150 if it poses a safety hazard or the operator cannot produce proof of insurance or a valid license, and all fines are paid to the County Treasurer for the General Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a passenger in a golf cart hold an open beer if the driver isn't drinking?
Does the open container ban apply on my own driveway or farm?
What happens on a repeat violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vanderburgh County
Compare Vanderburgh County to another location·View the Indiana public conduct overview
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