← District of Columbia alcohol laws›Open Container Law
District of Columbia Open Container Law (2026)
Restricted: In the District of Columbia it is unlawful to drink or to possess an open container of alcohol in any public space, including in a vehicle on a public street, whether moving or parked.
In the District of Columbia it is unlawful to drink or to possess an open container of alcohol in any public space, including in a vehicle on a public street, whether moving or parked. It is a misdemeanor (DC Code 25-1001).
Official source: code.dccouncil.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Open Container Law in states bordering District of Columbia
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- MarylandRestricted
Maryland prohibits open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle on a highway (Md. Code, Transp. 21-903), whether the vehicle is moving or parked, with limited exceptions for for-hire vehicles and recreational-vehicle living quarters.
Verified May 31, 2026 · Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
- VirginiaRestricted
Virginia prohibits drinking while driving, and it enforces that through a presumption: an open, partially consumed container in the passenger area, together with signs of consumption, creates a rebuttable presumption that the driver drank (a Class 4 misdemeanor). The trunk and other areas that cannot be reached are excluded (Va. Code 18.2-323.1).
Verified May 31, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
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