Open Containers in a Car
IC 9-30-15-3 — an opened alcohol container in the passenger compartment is a Class C infraction
A person in a motor vehicle that is being driven, or that sits on the right of way of a public highway, who possesses an alcoholic beverage container in the passenger compartment that has been opened, has a broken seal, or has had some of its contents removed, commits a Class C infraction.
Who handles this in Indiana: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Indiana directory.
- A passenger, but not the driver, in a vehicle used primarily to carry people for pay, or in the living quarters of a house coach or house trailer.
- A container in a locked, fixed center console or similar fixed compartment.
- In a vehicle without a trunk, a container behind the last upright seat or in an area not normally occupied.
An open container violation is not counted as a moving traffic violation, and the bureau assesses no points for it.
Sources for this section (1)
- IC 9-30-15-3 — Open alcoholic beverage container during operation of motor vehicle; Class C infraction
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Indiana attorney.