Thirsty?

‘ ‘ ‘ If you’re going outside to drink up, you better also be ready to pay up. ‘ ‘ ‘ … ‘ ‘ ‘ If you’re going outside to drink up, you better also be ready to pay up. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pittsburgh City Council unanimously voted to quadruple the fine for violating the city’s open container law yesterday, raising the penalty from $50 to $200 for a first offense. ‘ ‘ ‘ City Council now must vote again to finalize the change, which could occur as early as next week’s meeting. ‘ ‘ ‘ Zone 4 Police Commander Kathy Degler told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that her zone ‘mdash; which includes Oakland ‘mdash; has issued at least 107 open container citations in the past year. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Oakland is our highest place where this happens,’ she told the Post-Gazette. ‘There seems to be an absolute neglect of the law in Oakland with respect to the open container law. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The quality of life of the people who live in Oakland is vastly challenged by this cavalier behavior,’ she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ In the same vote, the city raised the penalty for a second offense from $100 to $300. ‘ ‘ ‘ The cost of a third offense will remain at $500. Also, the violations no longer need to occur within a one-year period to count as multiple offenses. ‘ ‘ ‘ Councilman Bill Peduto told the Post-Gazette that the current fines aren’t enough to deter the college students who drink in public. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Fifty bucks, you can go to the ATM and get that out,’ he said. ‘Two hundred bucks, you’re probably going to have to call mom and dad.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ According to the law, ‘No person shall consume alcoholic beverages or carry or possess an open container of alcoholic beverages in the public right-of-way, or on private property without the consent of the landowner or tenant.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The only exceptions to the open container policy are block parties that have received a permit. ‘ ‘ ‘ And no, SempleFest doesn’t count.