An effort to toughen the open container law in Wyoming is nearing passage in the statehouse.

The House gave initial approval Tuesday, Feb. 20, to a bill to ban consumption from and possession of open containers of alcohol in vehicles traveling public roadways in the state. The bill, which already received widespread support in the Senate, still must pass a final vote on the floor of the House. If approved there, it would head to Gov. Dave Freudenthal's desk for his signature.

Under Wyoming law, drivers are barred from having an open container of alcohol, but passengers 21 years of age or older are not. Supporters say the current rules are difficult to enforce because drivers can just hand an open container to passengers if they are pulled over.

Similar bills passed the state's House two years in a row, only to be beaten back in the Senate. The past two years, senators approved the effort only to see talks break down in the House, effectively killing the measure.

Sponsored by Sen. Tony Ross, R-Cheyenne, this year's version - SF33 - addresses one of the main points of contention. It requires open containers in RVs to be locked up in cabinets or compartments.

The bill includes exceptions for passengers in buses and limousines.

Supporters are hopeful their latest attempt will make it through the statehouse after the issue received a mention in Freudenthal's recent State of the State speech, The Casper Star-Tribune reported. Public opinion polls also show substantial support for the bill.

As written, the bill is not strict enough to free up millions in federal dollars for improving Wyoming roads.

The state is being forced to spend millions of its federal highway money on traffic safety because the state doesn't have a ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles. In 2006, the state was forced to divert $5.6 million from roads.

The federal government mandated in 2001 that states either pass open container laws or spend a percentage of federal highway dollars on public safety projects such as drunken driving checkpoints and installing cables in medians to prevent crossover accidents.