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 Louisiana (LA), it is generally illegal to possess an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public roadway or on the shoulder of a public roadway. Louisiana's open container law is found in the Revised Statutes, specifically RS 32:300. The law prohibits the possession of any alcoholic beverage that is open to consumption in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. The passenger area is defined as the area designed to seat the driver and passengers while the vehicle is in operation, and any area within the driver's reach, including an unlocked glove compartment. However, the law does not apply to passengers in a bus, limousine, or living quarters of a motor home. Violations of the open container law in Louisiana are typically charged as a misdemeanor and can result in fines. Unlike some states, Louisiana does not generally impose driver's license suspensions or jail time for open container violations, but the penalties can vary depending on the specific circumstances and any concurrent offenses.