Local law enforcement agencies are hoping to gain tighter control of Iowa’s open container law after the Iowa Senate passed a bill last week to strengthen the law.

The bill, which passed Tuesday with a vote of 37-13, would extend the current law to outlaw open or unsealed alcohol containers anywhere in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Passengers also would be prohibited from having open containers in a vehicle.

Currently, the law allows open containers in vehicles as long as they are outside of the driver’s immediate reach.

Loras Jaeger, director of the Department of Public Safety, said if the bill becomes law, it would greatly benefit DPS because of the large number of alcohol-related cases officers encounter.

“We’re particularly sensitive at the university because so much of our enforcement involves alcohol,” he said. “We would always support anything that would help us to reduce drunk driving.”

Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said the way the statute currently is written, drivers easily can avoid a ticket if a container is out of reach.

“That was very difficult to enforce,” Ballantine said. “I would like this change because it would give us a lot more control.”

Ballantine said he also was pleased passengers would not be allowed to drink in vehicles under the new law. The more latitude police have in keeping alcohol out of vehicles, the safer the streets will be, he said.

“This would be another little tool that we can use to address the drunk driving problem,” he said.

Jaeger said the law would make it easier for officers to handle situations in which open containers are involved.

“Any time you have alcohol in the vehicle, you’re going to have problems,” he said. “If you can keep the alcohol out of the vehicles, you’re taking a big step.”

The bill now must be voted on in the Iowa House.