Huntington toughens open-container law

Huntington’s open-container law in the town code has just been tightened. The town’s public nuisance law has also been updated to make it a violation for a person to defecate or urinate in any public place, except in a public or private toilet or restroom.

For repeat violators of the open-container law, the “look back” period would go from one to three years, so if there has been an offense within three years it would be treated more harshly.

There is now a sliding scale of fines for people found to be in violation of the open-container laws. A person found guilty for a first offense would be fined $25 to $100; a conviction for a second offense within five years of the first conviction would result in a fine between $100 and $250; and a third conviction or subsequent offense within five years of the first and second conviction would result in a fine between $250 and $500, imprisonment of up to 10 days, or both.

Violations of public urination and defecation were previously under the sewer waste management code, and will now be considered a violation in the public nuisance chapter.

The town board approved the updates 5-0 at its May 9 meeting.