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open container

In most states it is illegal to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public roadway or on the shoulder of a public roadway. These open container laws vary from state to state and a few states allow a passenger to possess and consume an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.

Open container offenses are usually charged as a misdemeanor or as an infraction, and penalties may include a fine, driver’s license suspension, and jail time.

Open container laws are located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code, the transportation code, or the motor vehicle code.

In Alaska, it is illegal to possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public roadway or on the shoulder of a public roadway, as per Alaska Statutes Section 04.16.080. This law applies to both drivers and passengers, and the passenger area is defined as the area designed to seat the driver and passengers, including any area within reach of a seated occupant. Violation of this open container law is considered a misdemeanor offense in Alaska. Penalties for an open container violation can include fines and potential jail time, although driver's license suspension is not a typical penalty for this offense in Alaska. It's important to note that some municipalities in Alaska may have their own local ordinances that could affect the enforcement of open container laws.

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Criminal charges

open container

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Alaska State Code

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Criminal charges

open container

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