36 CFR § 4.14 - Open container of alcoholic beverage.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t36/s4.14"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "36 CFR § 4.14 - Open container of alcoholic beverage."
title_number: 36
title_name: "Parks, Forests, and Public Property"
section_number: "4.14"
section_name: "Open container of alcoholic beverage."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
part_number: "4"
part_name: "VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC SAFETY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "54 U.S.C. 100101, 100751, 320102."
regulatory_source: "52 FR 10683, Apr. 2, 1987, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "4"
---


# 4.14 Open container of alcoholic beverage.

(a) Each person within a motor vehicle is responsible for complying with the provisions of this section that pertain to carrying an open container. The operator of a motor vehicle is the person responsible for complying with the provisions of this section that pertain to the storage of an open container.

(b) Carrying or storing a bottle, can or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage that is open, or has been opened, or whose seal is broken or the contents of which have been partially removed, within a motor vehicle in a park area is prohibited.

(c) This section does not apply to:

(1) An open container stored in the trunk of a motor vehicle or, if a motor vehicle is not equipped with a trunk, to an open container stored in some other portion of the motor vehicle designed for the storage of luggage and not normally occupied by or readily accessible to the operator or passengers; or

(2) An open container stored in the living quarters of a motor home or camper; or

(3) Unless otherwise prohibited, an open container carried or stored in a motor vehicle parked at an authorized campsite where the motor vehicle's occupant(s) are camping.

(d) For the purpose of paragraph (c)(1) of this section, a utility compartment or glove compartment is deemed to be readily accessible to the operator and passengers of a motor vehicle.