What is the Open Container Problem I've been reading about?

Will be there tomorrow.

Just today I'm reading about this open container problem which sounds like it's mainly an issue on Fremont East on the weekends.

What does anyone know from first hand experience?

I'd like to be able to carry a beer from 4 Queens, to Fremont, to GN, etc.

But I don't want a $200 ticket either.

What have you seen?

 

From my understanding of the laws and what I've read in the news, as long as you are under the canopy you are likely not to be bothered, however if you step out from under the canopy into the Fremont East bar district then you have been warned!

 

If you look like a tourist you have very little to worry about.

 

In the Fremont bar district, I think there's a difference between walking with a drink in your hand from one club to another and... sittin' on the curb with a twelve-pack and half your group is under 21. Lotta that kinda stuff goin' on during the weekends. Right now though... outside the canopy... I think I'd drink-up, leave the empty glass inside and walk over to the next joint and order a fresh one.

 

its wierd i think it has to be in a cup and bought from one of the casinos on freemont street ,there trying to stop people bring there own and hurting bussiness

 

Darn kids!
Yes, you are probably right, Smartone!

 

You will be fine. its outside the canopy that is the trouble spots. even then if you look like every other tourist you will be fine.

 

I thought that's what paper bags were for?

 

Stop worrying about stuff like this and start anticipating enjoying your trip. When you get there you will see hundreds and hundreds of people walking around with drinks, they sell them outside the casinos now as well.

 

Just a few weeks ago I walked out of the ElCo with my corona and down to Binions without a problem. I looked like a tourist though.

You'll be fine!

 

Times seem to be changing all over Las Vegas, and it doesn't appear to be for the better....

Very sad to read the Vegas papers and the headlines be related to a carjacker at the Flamingo killing a guy, another attempted carjacking at Excal, and now Metro issuing tickets for open containers??

I understand the need to keep an eye on rowdy younger folks tearing it up, but part of the appeal of Las Vegas is being able to walk around with a drink.

Just seems to me like this is starting to set up as a perfect storm to make some people question a visit to our mecca. Las Vegas needs to do a little soul searching and figure out some solutions to these very real issues. Crime certainly happens everywhere, but tourists should at least feel safe in the valet area of a casino swimming with security.

 

See! I warned everyone weeks ago about this happening lol.
With all the problem children causing problems in Fremont East Metro has started cracking down. Mainly its the locals that are getting busted. Its a safety issue so Metro is essentially cracking heads. Like others said though, don't chance it once your walk away from the canopy onto city streets.

 

Sadly, this is not quite true these days, and the OP is actually referencing a new and serious issue. There's a good writeup on it from this weekend's R-J here:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/revelers-discover-fremont-east-has-lots-dos-and-donts

Basically, Metro is cracking down on outdoor drinking and handing out tickets to both locals and tourists, even in areas where it was previously permitted, and even in places it's pretty clear from the law that it should be legal to drink. They also shut down Vanguard and Beauty Bar for noise violations, despite there apparently being a specific exemption from noise ordinances for the Fremont East area. Even the City Attorney admits that a lot of the citations issued wouldn't hold up in court if challenged, but they're still being issued. It's probably something to be careful about, at least until things get sorted out.

 

I think the OP has a valid question with the recent story of $200 tickets being handed out. Since the city seems to be a little confused about how to handle the crowds on Freemont East, I would just keep my outside drinking to the areas around the casinos under the canopy. I wouldn't carry any open container down past the canopy right now. If you are heading down to the ElCo it's not that far to go without a drink.

 

Check this out
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/aug/07/joe-downtown-police-crackdown-fremont-east-after-f/

I think Zappos and their Downtown Project opened a can of worms for the city. Now Metro and the city council are scrambling to mitigate the negative effects of opening a dozen bars and liquor stores within foot steps of one another lol.

 

Yeah... but I think this issue can be dealt with, as one person said in another article, "they're not gonna let this turn into Bourbon St." There're worse problems to have then people feeling comfortable and going to an area to spend money. They just have to set a "tone" for what's gonna be acceptable and what's not, before the Container Park opens up and be consistent about it.

 

two things from reading those articles

1. you can see what type of crowd some of that attracts when 17 out of 54 arrested (31.5%) had felony warrants outstanding

so not only did a large % of those arrested have a felony charge they had a felony charge they were not even going to attempt to adjudicate or take care of unless arrested for something else......who knows how many others arrested had a felony they had already done time for not to mention those that were not arrested and their felony standing.....also shows how stupid those are that have felony warrants......go out n public and act stupid so you end up arrested for the new charge and the charges you have been avoiding


2. it is pretty pathetic that what seems to be "locals" making comments in the comments section of the story do not even understand that The Strip is not Las Vegas proper and thus not under the same laws and rules as downtown Las Vegas that is actually IN Las Vegas

 

I think that this transition is inevitable. As a typical tourist visiting "Downtown" you will see little that is different. The changes in Frement St. East has opened up a new can of worms. The problem is more of a local crowd, many underage, getting a little hard to handle. If the town leader and the cops did nothing, the crowd would get dangerous, and people would think that Downtown LV was a dangerous place (is that feasible?)! It has a unique set of circumstances different from FSE, and must be dealth with to come up with a balance between personal liberties and safety.

I worked part time for Laconia NH police including 2 summers full time. Each June we host Motorcycle week.....10 days of events, rallies and races. We have liquor regulations and local ordinances against drinking in public. For a few years there were problems as the races and events were marketed differently. Peramiters were developed and now the event is relatively peaceful and well attended. Many of the former troubles were locals trying to get away with things within all the confusion. Many of the local towns have an ordinance against drinking in public. Most of the year it is seldom used, however, it is handy when things get out of hand ocassionally, and with crowd control.

Fremont Street East is a positive thing I think, but it may take a bit of time to strike a balance between the security and safety we need and the freedoms that we want to enjoy on vacation. In the meantime if you are nervous about the area folks can stay in the FSE and its relative safety, or, enjoy the Frement East Experience during less crowded times.

Jimbo338

 

Bring on the crackdown. My trip isnt till December so everything should be toned down by then. Its enivetable that a tourist or two will get cited along with the locals, who the Metro seems to be after.

It was suggested in most of the DT hate threads that police start cracking down and now it looks like they have. Cant have it both ways..

 

Has Fremont East changed that dramatically in the past year? I stayed at El Cortez on a Friday last Sept. and had no issues apart from a little noise in a Vintage room on the corner of Fremont. I have the same room booked for next month.

It seemed like it was more of a hipster crowd and there weren't any issues.

I love spending my last night in Vegas on Fremont and hope it hasn't turned into a total cluster...