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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 Arizona, it is 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, as per Arizona Revised Statutes § 4-251. This law applies to both drivers and passengers, with the exception of passengers in vehicles like limousines or buses where the driver is separated from the passenger area. Violating Arizona's open container laws is typically charged as a misdemeanor. Penalties for an open container violation can include fines and potentially impact the offender's driving record. However, Arizona law does not mandate a driver's license suspension or jail time for an open container offense alone. It's important to note that local ordinances may also apply and can sometimes be more restrictive than state law.

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Criminal charges

open container

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Arizona State Code

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Criminal charges

open container

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