Open container violation leads to students’ arrest for fake IDs
The Fort Worth city council unanimously passed the 2021 fiscal year budget on Sept. 22, 2020. This included increasing the police budget by 2%. (Leah Bolling/Staff Reporter)
Published Jan 27, 2023
Two TCU students will face fines and possible jail time after showing fake IDs to Fort Worth police officers on West 7th.
According to police, the students showed the fake IDs while getting tickets for violating the West 7th Street open container ordinance.
Since late last year, the city prohibits open containers and public consumption of alcohol within the defined limits of the West 7th area, including Carroll Street, Crockett Row, Montgomery Plaza and University Drive.
The measure is meant to reduce criminal activity in the area.
The Texas Penal Code defines an open container as “a bottle, can, or other receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage and that is open, that has been opened, that has a broken seal, or the contents of which are partially removed.”
Fort Worth police Lt. Paul Genualdo said the ordinance is not in place to get people in trouble.
“We’re there to help people,” Genualdo said. “That’s our main focus. All we’re asking for is voluntary compliance. If you’re going to drink, drink inside the bar.”
Violation of the open container ordinance is a Class C misdemeanor with fines of up to $500. The use or possession of a fake ID is a Class B misdemeanor, and violators can face a sentence of 180 days in jail and fines of up to $2,000.
