Alcohol & Drugs: MIP, MIC, Intoxication Open container ticket

[jlee2u]

Hi. I live in Ohio. Last nite I got a ticket for open container. Here's the issue. I had a bottle of vodka in the car, behind the passenger's seat. (I didn't think the bottle was visibile)I stopped at the local bar before going home. Before i went into the bar, i noticed the police officers were in the parking lot, with flashlights, looking in all the parked cars. I assume this is when they saw the vodka wedged between the car seat. I came out the bar, and was talking with friends, as i watched the some officers search other cars, and two officers to the side, standing across from my car, as if they were waiting for me(not knowing it was me, but waiting for the driver of the car). Once i walked to the car and opened the car door, both officers approached me and instructed me to give them the bottle of vodka that was in the back seat. I did as instructed, and was given a ticket for $140! My question, is this: are the the cops allowed to walk around a parking lot, looking in people's cars like this? And, i don't believe the bottle could have be seen in plain view, had they not been looking through vehichles. I want to fight this, but don't know if I have a leg to stand on. Any help?

 

[Sibee]

An officer can peer though your window out of pure boredom if he wanted to. If he sees anything in the car from an open bottle of alcohol to a murder weapon they have the right to wait and obtain it from the driver. your best defense to this is to normally plead guilty or no contest, but its always best to consult an attorney first.

 

[jlee2u]

Thanks for the info- I will do just that.