Pedestrian Accidents: Drinking & Walking in Hawaii

• Passengers and drivers are prohibited from having open containers of alcohol or drinking in a vehicle, even when the car is parked
• People under 21 can’t buy alcohol, but they can drink it if a parent or guardian serves it to them in a private location
• It’s illegal to use a fake ID to buy alcohol
• People who are 21 or older can leave a restaurant with a partially consumed bottle of alcohol, as long as it is resealed in its original container
• Drinking alcohol on a public beach is illegal
• You can get arrested for public intoxication if you cannot take care of yourself or create a disturbance, such as fighting, damaging property, threatening someone, making unreasonable noise, passing out in public, or injuring someone else
• Police cannot legally require you to take a field sobriety test
• It’s illegal to operate any vessel while drunk, including boats, surfboards, and water skis

Dangers of Drunk Walking

• Impairs judgment and reaction time
• Inhibits decision-making
• Increases risky behaviors, such as running in front of a car or crossing a dark highway
• Limits peripheral vision, depth perception, and glare recovery

Consequences of Drunk Walking

• Death or serious injury
• Public intoxication and other criminal charges with hefty penalties, such as jail time, significant fines, and community service
• Fines of around $200 – $300 for passengers with an open container of alcohol in a vehicle
• Lawsuits from people harmed by drunk pedestrians