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 Utah, it is illegal to possess an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public highway, according to Utah Code Section 41-6a-526. The law defines an open container as any bottle, can, or other receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage and is open, has been opened, has a broken seal, or has had some of the contents removed. The passenger area is considered anywhere designed to seat the driver or a passenger, or any area within the driver's reach, including an unlocked glove compartment. It's important to note that the law does not apply to the living quarters of a motor home or if the open container is in the trunk or another area not normally occupied by the driver or passengers. Violating Utah's open container law is a class C misdemeanor, which may result in fines and potentially impact the driver's license status. However, passengers are not exempt from this law, and it is generally illegal for them to possess or consume an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle on a public roadway in Utah.