Skip to main content
HR 540 102th Congress House

To amend title 23, United States Code, relating to open containers of alcoholic beverages and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of motor vehicles.

Introduced: March 6, 1991 See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works Alcoholic beveragesDrunk drivingFederal aid highway programMotor bus lines
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Roads and highwaysState laws
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 18, 1991
See H.R.2950.
Feb 14, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.
Jan 16, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
Jan 16, 1991
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action December 18, 1991

See H.R.2950.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Requires the Secretary of Transportation to withhold five percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under the Federal-aid highway program if it is lawful in such State to: (1) possess an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of any motor vehicle on a public highway; or (2) consume any alcoholic beverage in such motor vehicle on a public highway.

Exempts from such withholding measures charter buses of ten or more passengers whose drivers are not permitted by State law to possess open alcoholic beverages in the passenger area.

Provides for the release of withheld funds to States which comply with this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2950 Procedurally related Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Mar 6, 1991
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 540: To amend title 23, United States Code, relating to open containers of alcoholic beverages and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of motor vehicles.. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-540/
MLA
"H.R. 540: To amend title 23, United States Code, relating to open containers of alcoholic beverages and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of motor vehicles.." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-540/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 540, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-540/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 540: To amend title 23, United States Code, relating to open containers of alcoholic beverages and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of motor vehicles.](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-540/)
Report a problem