Most days, cars with Pennsylvania tags fill the parking lot of the Total Wine and More in Claymont, Delaware, as consumers flock across the state line to buy beer, wine and liquor in one spot.

It's technically illegal for Pennsylvanians to buy booze out of state and bring it back for personal use, but the days of state law turning everyday citizens into bootleggers could be drawing to a close.In a surprise move, the state House this week began moving a bill that would decriminalize out-of-state alcohol purchases, as long as Pennsylvanians paid the applicable taxes. It might even serve as the vehicle for another liquor privatization plan.State Rep. John Taylor, the Philadelphia Republican sponsoring the bill, called the development a "most unexpected Christmas present."Philadelphians shouldn't be punished for shopping in nearby Cherry Hill and Pennsauken, New Jersey, he said."In light of the discussions that we're having, I did not want to continue to subject my constituents to being criminals because they may purchase alcohol a mere quarter of a mile from their house," he said.Many people probably don't even know about the law that bars out-of-state alcohol purchases. State police sporadically enforce it. When they do, it's usually in cases in which a tavern owner buys booze from someone other than the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which oversees wholesale and retail wine and liquor sales.Yet the story of Bill Paraskewik proves everyday people can be treated as if they were a Prohibition-era rum-runner.In March of 2013, the Hatfield man made a trip to the Claymont Total Wine to stock up before the summer entertaining months. He loaded his 1999 Chrysler Town and Country minivan with 52 bottles of wine, six bottles of liquor and four cases of beer - about $600 worth of alcohol.On the drive up Interstate 95, a state trooper stopped him just after he crossed into Pennsylvania and told him to head to the nearby Pennsylvania Welcome Center. About a half dozen other state troopers milled about there, near a yellow box truck.Though Paraskewik had shopped at Total Wine before, on this particular occasion he found himself caught in a sting operation. He waited for two hours while troopers inventoried his alcohol and tossed it in the box truck, never to be seen again.State police issued two citations, one for the beer and one for the wine and liquor. Paraskewik faced fines that could have totaled nearly $2,500. However, a local magistrate dismissed both, saying forfeiting $600 of alcohol was punishment enough.Paraskewik said he wouldn't mind paying taxes on alcohol bought out of state."I even told the judge that, but it didn't make a difference," he said. "We made the run for the selection and the price, not to skip out on taxes."Pennsylvania charges an 18 percent tax on wine and liquor sales, in addition to a 6 percent state sales tax. Beer is subject to an excise tax of 8 cents a gallon.While it's likely that some people still wouldn't remit the taxes, others might. That would help Pennsylvania recoup the revenue that's lost when residents buy alcohol out of state, said state Rep. Chris Ross, the Republican chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee."Those that are good citizens that want to follow the law would then have a venue where they can pay taxes and stay in compliance with the law, which I think is a positive thing," Ross said.While Ross said the bill should be considered at face value, he also acknowledged that it could be amended. That leaves open the possibility that lawmakers could try to attach legislation privatizing wine and liquor sales to it, a move that could complicate the simple standalone bill.The legislation passed the committee 16-11 in a party-line vote. Every Republican supported it, but every Democrat opposed it.State Rep. Paul Costa, the Democratic chairman of the committee, fretted over a provision that allows people to buy alcohol for their neighbors out of state, as long as they are reimbursed only for the cost of the product. He envisioned people renting UHauls and charging for the service, something that Ross said would be illegal under the legislation."My fear is people figuring out ways to circumvent the system," Costa said.The Total Wine parking lot, though, is evidence people already do.