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 Washington State, it is illegal under RCW 46.61.519 to have an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle on a public highway. The law defines an open container as any receptacle that has been opened, has a broken seal, or has had some of its contents removed. The passenger area is considered any area readily accessible to the driver or passengers while in their seating positions, including the glove compartment. However, the law does not apply to passengers in certain areas of vehicles like the living quarters of a motor home or in the passenger area of a chartered bus. Violation of Washington's open container law is considered a traffic infraction, which typically results in a fine. There is no provision for a driver's license suspension or jail time for an open container violation in Washington. It's important to note that these laws are specific to the state of Washington and can vary significantly in other states.