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 Wyoming, 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 Wyoming Statutes section 31-5-235. 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 passenger. However, the law does not apply to passengers in vehicles like limousines or buses that are primarily used for the transportation of persons for compensation. Violation of Wyoming's open container law is typically charged as a misdemeanor, and penalties may include fines. There is no provision for a driver's license suspension or jail time solely for an open container violation in Wyoming. It's important to note that local ordinances may also apply and can sometimes be more restrictive than state law.