Austin Rules to Obey (Weir: house, buying, high school)

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by gigi927

Unrelated to drinking - you have to have your car inspected every year here. Haven't seen that in any other state I've lived in.

Is the inspection done by the state (designated locations) or do you have to go to an independent mechanic and pay for it? Currently where I live, I get a yearly notification to have a state inspection (for free) but it comes with a warning that if it's not done by a certain date that there will be fines, etc.

[neddy]

There are shops everywhere that do inspections, I usually get my inspection done at the same time I get an oil change but any shop that has a Texas symbol on it is an inspection place.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by neddy

There are shops everywhere that do inspections, I usually get my inspection done at the same time I get an oil change but any shop that has a Texas symbol on it is an inspection place.

So the inspections are done at an independent shop then? How much does it usually cost?

[austin-steve]

I moved to Texas (Corpus Christi) in 1981 when I was 19. Back then, the drinking age was 18 and it was legal to drink and drive as long as you weren't drunk (and the legal limit I believe was 1.5).

Coming from California where one would be arrested for an empty beer can in the back seat, and the drinking age was 21, Texas was like another planet.

Steve

[HappyTexan]

I just got my son's truck inspected last week..about $30.00

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

I moved to Texas (Corpus Christi) in 1981 when I was 19. Back then, the drinking age was 18 and it was legal to drink and drive as long as you weren't drunk (and the legal limit I believe was 1.5).

Coming from California where one would be arrested for an empty beer can in the back seat, and the drinking age was 21, Texas was like another planet.

Steve

Yes, you could drink a beer while driving and it was legal as long as you weren't drunk.

Supposedly, when the law changed in the late 80s/early 90s, as long as your beer was not in its original container the cop could not prove it was alcohol without a lab test. Just because it looked, smelled, and tasted like alcohol didn't mean it was alcohol. This led to all those drive through margarita barns that give you a tasty beverage in a Styrofoam cup. Down in Hallettsville, at least well into the 90s (it may still be there), there was a convenience store that has a couple of beer taps right next to the fountain drinks so you can get a beer to go. You pulled your own.

[Trainwreck20]

Regarding the liquor laws that generally pertain to Austin, the most common ones that people notice from out of state:

• No liquor sales on sundays (and liquor stores must remain closed)
• No liquor sales at grocery stores (they could sell liquor, but would have to close on sundays)
• Liquor stores must close at 9 pm
• Beer/wine sales at grocery stores must cease at midnight (1 am on Saturday)
• Bars must cease alcohol sales at 2 am (earlier, depending on license)

Regarding inspections:

• Due every year, except off-the-lot new cars get a free pass the first year.
• Price is generally less than $20, unless you are in an emission inspection county
• In inspection counties it is around $30-40. I think Travis and Wm County are inspection, Hays is not. The counties around Houston are inspection counties.
• The price is set by the state, but the inspection is done by private shops, most often oil change places.

The liquor laws have changes quite a few times, esp. regarding open containers in cars. Also, I am sure the liquor stores closing at 9 pm probably saved me from jail time or worse when I was in college .

[readymade]

Wait. Seriously? You can't buy hard liquor after 9PM?!
You CAN buy beer & wine at a grocery store, but unly until midnight?

Very very odd. Even stricter than Massachusetts (can't buy booze on a Sunday). I don't really get why you can't buy "the blood of christ" on a Sunday. Isn't that a bit counter-productive?

[AGA]

You can buy "the blood of Christ" on Sunday but at a grocery store after NOON...Right?
Just no vodka, whiskey etc...because the liquor stores are closed on Sunday and the grocery stores don't sell it!

I think I got that summed up correctly.

What I found interesting was my underage son could enter a bar with me and not drink and be my designated driver (up to the discretion of the bar), and I have been tolde (but not tested) that a minor can drink alcohol when in the company of a "parent or legal guardian".
Any input on those????
AGA

Oh yeah... the rule about you must wearflip flops when you live in Austin!!!! Even to church and black tie events....

[Trainwreck20]

A legal guardian (generally a parent) may give alcohol to their underage child; however, the establishment (bar, restaurant, etc) may not serve the minor. The end result is that the parent may order a drink and then give it to their child, but the child may not order a drink. I was a waiter for many years, and we had to actually set the drink down in front of the parent, even though they told us they were ordering for their kid. Kinda funny .