--- title: Alcohol Impaired Driving Laws By State description: Explore alcohol-impaired driving laws by state, including BAC limits, penalties, and ignition interlock programs. Stay informed and drive safely. image: https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/do-not-drink-and-drive-safely-signage.jpg --- [Skip to the main content.](https://education.veritasrm.com/alcohol-impaired-driving-laws-by-state#main-content) [![Veritas Insurance](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_2022-07-27_161347-removebg-preview.png?width=679&height=124&name=Screenshot_2022-07-27_161347-removebg-preview.png "Veritas Insurance")](https://veritasrm.com/) [![Veritas Insurance](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/veritasrm-1.png?width=1000&height=145&name=veritasrm-1.png "Veritas Insurance")](https://veritasrm.com/) - Get Insurance - [Business Insurance](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/) - [Types of Coverage](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/business-insurance/) - [Personal Insurance](https://veritasrm.com/personal/) - About Us - [Companies We Represent](https://veritasrm.com/companies-we-represent/) - [Contact Us](https://veritasrm.com/contact-us/) - [Meet Our Team](https://veritasrm.com/meet-our-team/) - [Andrew Darlington](https://veritasrm.com/andrew-darlington/) - [Tammy Collins](https://veritasrm.com/tammy-collins/) - [Regina Davis](https://veritasrm.com/regina-davis/) - [Jennifer Plaisted](https://veritasrm.com/jennifer-plaisted/) - [Tony Dale](https://veritasrm.com/tony-dale/) - [Jonathan Lugo](https://veritasrm.com/jonathan-lugo/) - [Laryn Hurley](https://veritasrm.com/laryn-hurley/) - [Sheri Taylor](https://veritasrm.com/sheri-taylor/) - [Lynn Hodge](https://veritasrm.com/lynn-hodge/) - [Heather Trent](https://veritasrm.com/heather-trent/) - [Andy Warner](https://veritasrm.com/andy-warner/) - [Sarrah Rossi](https://veritasrm.com/sarrah-rossi/) - [Refer Us and Win](https://veritasrm.com/refer-us-and-win/) - [Blog](https://education.veritasrm.com) Search *Search* Toggle Menu Search *Search* Toggle Menu - Get Insurance *Toggle Menu* - [Business Insurance *Toggle Menu*](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/) - [Types of Coverage](https://veritasrm.com/insure-your-business/business-insurance/) - [Personal Insurance](https://veritasrm.com/personal/) - About Us *Toggle Menu* - [Companies We Represent](https://veritasrm.com/companies-we-represent/) - [Contact Us](https://veritasrm.com/contact-us/) - [Meet Our Team *Toggle Menu*](https://veritasrm.com/meet-our-team/) - [Andrew Darlington](https://veritasrm.com/andrew-darlington/) - [Tammy Collins](https://veritasrm.com/tammy-collins/) - [Regina Davis](https://veritasrm.com/regina-davis/) - [Jennifer Plaisted](https://veritasrm.com/jennifer-plaisted/) - [Tony Dale](https://veritasrm.com/tony-dale/) - [Jonathan Lugo](https://veritasrm.com/jonathan-lugo/) - [Laryn Hurley](https://veritasrm.com/laryn-hurley/) - [Sheri Taylor](https://veritasrm.com/sheri-taylor/) - [Lynn Hodge](https://veritasrm.com/lynn-hodge/) - [Heather Trent](https://veritasrm.com/heather-trent/) - [Andy Warner](https://veritasrm.com/andy-warner/) - [Sarrah Rossi](https://veritasrm.com/sarrah-rossi/) - [Refer Us and Win](https://veritasrm.com/refer-us-and-win/) - [Blog](https://education.veritasrm.com) [*Facebook*](https://education.veritasrm.com/alcohol-impaired-driving-laws-by-state#0) [*Instagram*](https://education.veritasrm.com/alcohol-impaired-driving-laws-by-state#0) [*LinkedIn*](https://education.veritasrm.com/alcohol-impaired-driving-laws-by-state#0) [*Twitter*](https://education.veritasrm.com/alcohol-impaired-driving-laws-by-state#0) [*Youtube*](https://education.veritasrm.com/alcohol-impaired-driving-laws-by-state#0) [*Medium*](https://education.veritasrm.com/alcohol-impaired-driving-laws-by-state#0) 4 min read # Alcohol Impaired Driving Laws By State [![Picture of Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/DarlingtonFace.jpg) Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington) : October 21, 2024 at 5:37 PM [Auto Insurance](https://education.veritasrm.com/tag/auto-insurance) ![Alcohol Impaired Driving Laws By State](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/do-not-drink-and-drive-safely-signage.jpg) ### Click Below and Listen To "Alcohol Impaired Driving Laws By State" # Alcohol-Impaired Driving (DWI/DUI Laws by State   All states but Utah define driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08% as a crime, and specific laws and penalties vary substantially from state to state. Effective December 30, 2018, Utah’s BAC is set at 0.05.% All states have some type of ignition interlock program, in which judges require all or some convicted drunk drivers to install interlocks in their cars to disable the engine if alcohol is detected on their breath. Please note that this summary represents the State Highway Safety Office members' interpretation of the law. Some groups may have a higher count. Federal law mandates that states adopt open container and repeat offender laws meeting specific requirements. Otherwise, a portion of the state's surface transportation funding is transferred to the state DOT or State Highway Safety Office. 39 states, D.C. and 3 territories have open container laws which meet federal requirements. 33 states, D.C. and 3. ## Links and Resources - Governors Highway Safety Association [Alcohol Impaired Driving](https://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/alcohol%20impaired%20driving) - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [Drunk Driving webpage](https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving) - NHTSA [Digest of State Alcohol Highway Safety-Related Legislation](https://www.nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/impaired-driving) - NHTSA [Reports Sent to Congress](https://www.nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/evaluation-updates#evaluation-updates-reports-sent-congress) ### "territories" have repeat offender laws THAT meet federal requirements   ## Summary by the Numbers - 44 states and the District of Columbia have increased penalties for drivers convicted at higher BACs (specific levels and penalties vary by state). - 48 states and the District of Columbia have administrative license suspension (ALS) on the first offense. ALS allows law enforcement to confiscate a driver's license for a period of time if he fails a chemical test. Most of these states allow limited driving privileges (such as to/from work). - 26 states(and four California counties) have made ignition interlocks mandatory or highly incentivized for all convicted drunk drivers, even first-time offenders. 11 states require them for repeat offenders, and 11 states for both high BAC and repeat offenders. The remaining - Two states make interlocks discretionary. | State   | Inc. Penalty for High BAC | Admin. License Susp. on 1st Offense | Limited Driving Privileges | Ignition Interlocks | Open Container Laws\* | Repeat Offender Laws\* | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Alabama | 0.15 | 90 days |   | Mandatory for high BAC (0.15 and above) and repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions | Yes | Yes | | Alaska |     | 90 days | After 30 days | Mandatory for all convictions | No | No | | Arizona | 0.15 | 90 days | After 30 days | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Arkansas |   | 6 months | Yes | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | California | 0.15 | 4 months | After 30 days | Discretionary. Mandatory for all repeat and injury-involved offenses, first-time injury or vehicular manslaughter offenses. | Yes | No | | Colorado | 0.15 | 3 months | Yes | Mandatory for high BAC (0.15 and above) and repeat convictions, highly incentivized for first convictions | Yes | No | | Connecticut |   | 90 days | Yes | Highly incentivized for all convictions | No | Yes | | Delaware | 0.15 | 3 months | No | Highly incentivized for all convictions | No | Yes | | D.C. | .20, .25 and .30 | 2-90 days or until deposition | Yes | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Florida | 0.2 | ·   6 months for DUI ·   12 months for refusal | ·   After 30 days ·   After 90 days |   | Yes | Yes | | Georgia | 0.15 | 1 year | Yes | Mandatory for repeat convictions | Yes | Yes | | Hawaii |   | 3 months | After 30 days | Mandatory for all convictions | No | No | | Idaho | 0.2 | 90 days | After 30 days | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Illinois | 0.16 | 6 months | After 30 days | Mandatory for all convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions | Yes | Yes | | Indiana | 0.15 | 180 days | Available immediately | Mandatory for repeat convictions | Yes | No | | Iowa | 0.15 | 180 days | After 30 days | Highly incentivized for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Kansas | 0.15 | 30 days |   | Highly incentivized for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Kentucky | 0.15 | 30 - 120 days | Yes | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Louisiana | .15 and .20 |   |   | Mandatory for high BAC (0.20 and above) and repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions | No | No | | Maine | 0.15 | 150 days | Yes | Highly incentivized for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Maryland | 0.15 | 180 days for both .08 and .15 | Yes, w/ interlock | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Massachusetts | 0.2 | 90 days | Yes | Mandatory for repeat convictions | Yes | Yes | | Michigan | 0.17 | 30-180 days | After 45 days | Mandatory for high BAC (0.17) and repeat convictions | Yes | Yes | | Minnesota | 0.16 | 90 days | After 15 days | Highly incentivized for high BAC (0.16) and repeat convictions | Yes | No | | Mississippi |   | 90 days |   | Mandatory for all convictions | No | Yes | | Missouri | 0.15 | 90 days | ·   After 0 days w/ interlock use (restricted) ·   After 30 days (restricted) | Mandatory for repeat convictions | No | Yes | | Montana | 0.16 | 6 months | Yes | Mandatory for repeat convictions | Yes | No | | Nebraska | 0.15 | 90 days | After 30 days | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | Nevada | 0.18 | 90 days | After 45 days | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | New Hampshire | 0.16 | 6 months |   | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | New Jersey | 0.1 | 3 months |   | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | New Mexico | .16 (w/ mand. jail on all offenses) | ·   \<21: 1 yr.; ·   \>21: 6 mo. | Immediately w/ Ignition Interlock | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | No | | New York | 0.18 | Yes | Yes | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | Yes | | North Carolina | 0.15 | 30 days | After 10 days | Mandatory for high BAC | Yes | Yes | | (\>.15) and repeat convictions | | | | | | | | North Dakota | 0.18 | 91 days | After 30 days | Discretionary | Yes | Yes | | Ohio | 0.17 | 90 days | After 15 days | Mandatory for repeat convictions | No | No | | Oklahoma | 0.15 | 180 days | Yes | Mandatory for high BAC (0.15 and above) and repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions | Yes | Yes | | Oregon | 0.15 | 90 days | After 30 days | Mandatory for all convictions and diversions | Yes | No | | Pennsylvania1 | .10 and .16 | None | Yes | Mandatory for high BAC (.10 or higher) and repeat convictions | Yes | Yes | | Also uses Occupational Limited License (OLL) | | | | | | | | Rhode Island | .10 and .15 | 30-180 days |   | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | No | | South Carolina | .10 and .16 | 1 month (for .15 or higher BAC) | Yes | Mandatory for both high BAC (.15 or higher) and repeat convictions | Yes | No | | South Dakota | 0.17 | 30 days | Yes | Discretionary | Yes | No | | Tennessee | 0.2 | 1 year | Yes | Mandatory for repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions | No | Yes | | Texas | 0.15 | ·   90 days if .08 or greater; ·   180 days for refusal | Yes | Mandatory for repeat convictions | Yes | Yes | | Utah | 0.16 | 120 days |   | Mandatory for repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions | Yes | Yes | | Vermont |   | 90 days |   | Highly incentivized for all convictions | Yes | No | | Virginia | .15 and .20 | 7 days |   | Mandatory for repeat convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions | No | Yes | | Washington | 0.15 | 90 days | With an ignition interlock driver’s license | Mandatory for all convictions | Yes | No | | West Virginia | 0.15 | 6 months | After 30 days | Mandatory for high BAC (.15 or higher) and repeat convictions | Yes | Yes | | Wisconsin | .17, .20 and .25 | 6-9 months | Yes | Mandatory for high BAC (.15 or higher) and repeat convictions | Yes | Yes | | Wyoming | 0.15 | 90 days | Yes | Mandatory for high BAC (.15 or higher) and repeat convictions | No | No |   \*Meeting Federal Requirements Source: Governors Highway Safety Association, [https://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/Alcohol-Impaired-Driving](https://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/Alcohol-Impaired-Driving) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Teen Driver Laws By States](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/Young%20people%20having%20vacation%20enjoying%20fun%20driving%20car.jpeg)](https://education.veritasrm.com/teen-driver-laws-by-states) #### [Teen Driver Laws By States](https://education.veritasrm.com/teen-driver-laws-by-states) ![Picture of Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DarlingtonFace.jpg?width=30&name=DarlingtonFace.jpg) [Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington) : October 18, 2024 at 5:35 PM Graduated Licensing (Teen Driver) Laws by State [Auto Insurance](https://education.veritasrm.com/tag/auto-insurance) [Read More](https://education.veritasrm.com/teen-driver-laws-by-states) [![Tennessee SR22 Insurance: Essential Information Explained](https://education.veritasrm.com/hubfs/SR22/4.jpg)](https://education.veritasrm.com/sr22-insurance-tennessee) 5 min read #### [Tennessee SR22 Insurance: Essential Information Explained](https://education.veritasrm.com/sr22-insurance-tennessee) ![Picture of Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DarlingtonFace.jpg?width=30&name=DarlingtonFace.jpg) [Andrew Darlington](https://education.veritasrm.com/author/andrew-darlington) : September 27, 2023 at 9:36 PM Tennessee SR22 Insurance: Everything You Need To Know If you're required to carry an SR22 in Tennessee, it's important to understand what it is and... 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