Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 4-251 (2026)

Spirituous liquor in motor vehicles; prohibitions; violation; classification; exceptions; definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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4-251. Spirituous liquor in motor vehicles; prohibitions; violation; classification; exceptions; definitions

A. It is unlawful for any person to:

1. Consume spirituous liquor while operating or while within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle that is located on any public highway or right-of-way of a public highway in this state.

2. Possess an open container of spirituous liquor within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle that is located on any public highway or right-of-way of a public highway in this state.

B. A person who violates subsection A of this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

C. This section does not apply to:

1. A passenger in any bus, limousine, taxi or transportation network company vehicle as defined in section 28-9551 while the vehicle is being used to provide transportation network services as defined in section 28-9551.

2. A passenger in the living quarters of a motor home as defined in section 28-4301.

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Motor vehicle":

(a) Means a self-propelled vehicle.

(b) Does not include a vehicle operated exclusively on rails or water.

2. "Open container" means any bottle, can, jar, container dispensed pursuant to section 4-244, paragraph 32, subdivision (c) or other receptacle that contains spirituous liquor and that has been opened, has had its seal broken or the contents of which have been partially removed.

3. "Passenger compartment" means the area of a motor vehicle designed for the seating of the driver and other passengers of the vehicle. Passenger compartment includes an unlocked glove compartment and any unlocked portable devices within the immediate reach of the driver or any passengers. Passenger compartment does not include the trunk, a locked glove compartment or the area behind the last upright seat of a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a trunk.

4. "Public highway or right-of-way of a public highway" means the entire width between and immediately adjacent to the boundary lines of every way maintained by the federal government, this state or a county, city or town if any part of the way is generally open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2007–2024 · leading case: Hernandez v. Lynch, 167 P.3d 1264 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007).

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Hernandez v. Lynch, 167 P.3d 1264 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 4× “See A.R.S. §§ 4-251(A)(2) (2006) (open container).”

United States v. Alfredo Landeros, 913 F.3d 862 (9th Cir. 2019). “Arizona prohibits open containers of alcohol in cars on public highways, Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 4-251 . Officer Baker then placed Landeros under arrest.”

Victor Sanchez-Ravuelta Janette Dodge v. Yavapai Cnty. Town of Dewey-Humboldt (Ariz. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “, A.R.S. § 4-251 (prohibiting consumption of alcohol or possession of open alcohol containers in motor vehicles); A.”

Nakia Durham v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2023). “uttable 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 beverage in the open container has been at least partially removed,…”

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 4-251(A)(2) — 1 case

Hernandez v. Lynch, 167 P.3d 1264 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). “See A.R.S. §§ 4-251(A)(2) (2006) (open container).”

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