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 Iowa, open container laws prohibit the possession of any open or unsealed bottle, can, jar, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of any motor vehicle that is located on a public roadway or on the shoulder of a public roadway. This applies to both drivers and passengers. The relevant laws are found in the Iowa Code, specifically in section 321.284. Violation of Iowa's open container law is typically charged as a simple misdemeanor. Penalties for an open container violation can include fines and potentially impact the violator's driving privileges. However, Iowa law does not typically include jail time as a penalty for an open container violation. It's important to note that these laws can be subject to local variations and exceptions, such as for passengers in certain for-hire vehicles or in the living quarters of a house coach or house trailer.