Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 28.35.029 (2026)
Open container
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 28.35.029. Open container.
(a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a highway or vehicular way or area, when there is an open bottle, can, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, except as provided in (b) of this section.
(b) Except as provided in AS 28.33.130, a person may transport an open bottle, can, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage
(1) in the trunk of a motor vehicle;
(2) on a motor driven cycle, or behind the last upright seat in a motor home, station wagon, hatchback, or similar trunkless vehicle, if the open bottle, can, or other receptacle is enclosed within another container;
(3) behind a solid partition that separates the vehicle driver from the area normally occupied by passengers; or
(4) if the open bottle, can, or other receptacle is in the possession of a passenger in a motor vehicle for which the owner receives direct monetary compensation and that has a capacity of 12 or more persons.
(c) In this section
(1) “alcoholic beverage” has the meaning given in AS 04.21.080(b);
(2) [Repealed, § 29 ch 3 SLA 1992.]
(3) “motor vehicle” means a vehicle for which a driver's license is required;
(4) “open” includes having a broken seal;
(5) “passenger compartment” means the area normally occupied by the driver and passengers and includes a utility or glove compartment accessible to the driver or a passenger while the motor vehicle is being operated.
(d) A person who violates (a) of this section is guilty of an infraction.
(a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a highway or vehicular way or area, when there is an open bottle, can, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, except as provided in (b) of this section.
(b) Except as provided in AS 28.33.130, a person may transport an open bottle, can, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage
(1) in the trunk of a motor vehicle;
(2) on a motor driven cycle, or behind the last upright seat in a motor home, station wagon, hatchback, or similar trunkless vehicle, if the open bottle, can, or other receptacle is enclosed within another container;
(3) behind a solid partition that separates the vehicle driver from the area normally occupied by passengers; or
(4) if the open bottle, can, or other receptacle is in the possession of a passenger in a motor vehicle for which the owner receives direct monetary compensation and that has a capacity of 12 or more persons.
(c) In this section
(1) “alcoholic beverage” has the meaning given in AS 04.21.080(b);
(2) [Repealed, § 29 ch 3 SLA 1992.]
(3) “motor vehicle” means a vehicle for which a driver's license is required;
(4) “open” includes having a broken seal;
(5) “passenger compartment” means the area normally occupied by the driver and passengers and includes a utility or glove compartment accessible to the driver or a passenger while the motor vehicle is being operated.
(d) A person who violates (a) of this section is guilty of an infraction.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1990–2023 · leading case: Gonzales v. Krueger, 799 P.2d 1318 (Alaska 1990).
Gonzales v. Krueger, 799 P.2d 1318 (Alaska 1990). “Under the open container statute, AS 28.35.029, a person may not operate a motor vehicle when there is an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.”
Nakia Durham v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2023). “an open container of alcohol while driving creates merely a rebuttable presumption that the driver is drinking while driving, and only if the following conditions are met: (i) an open container is located within the passenger area of the motor vehicle, (ii) the alcoholic…”
Hannam v. State, 327 P.3d 209 (Alaska Ct. App. 2014). “AS 28.35.029. 5 . See Charles Alan Wright and Andrew D.”
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