Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-22-21.1. Presence of alcoholic beverages while operating or riding in a motor vehicle

(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the public highways with any unsealed alcoholic beverage container within the passenger section of the vehicle.

(b) Any person found in violation of this section may be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200) or have his or her driver's license suspended for up to six (6) months, or both, for the first violation, and for each subsequent violation may be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or have his or her driver's license suspended for up to one year, or both.

(c) The operator of a rented limousine or bus shall not be subject to the provisions of this section provided neither the operator nor any passenger under the age of twenty-one (21) is in possession of any unsealed alcoholic beverage container.

(d) The original jurisdiction of this section shall be exclusively in the traffic tribunal.