Easiest DUI laws by State, toughest and easiest

State

Inc. Penalty for High BAC

Admin. License Susp. on 1st Offense

Limited Driving Privileges During Susp.

Ignition Interlocks

Vehicle and License Plate Sanctions

Open Container Laws*

Repeat Offender Laws*

Alcohol Exclusion Laws Limiting Treatment

Ala.

.15

90 days

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

Alaska

.15

(at judges’ disc.)

90 days

After 30 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Vehicle impoundment

Yes

Ariz.

.15

90 days

After 30 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Immobilization or impoundment

Yes

Yes

Ark.

.15

6 months

Yes

Mandatory for all convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Calif.

.15

4 months

After 30 days

Discretionary

Mandatory for all convictions in Alameda, Los Angeles, Tulare and Sacramento counties (pilot project)

Impoundment, vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Colo.

.17

3 months

Yes

Highly incentivized for all convictions

Yes

Yes

Conn.

.16

90 days

Yes

Mandatory for all convictions

Yes

Del.

.16

3 months

Mandatory for all convictions

(eff. 2/2015)

Vehicle sanction and license plate impoundment

Yes

Yes

D.C.

.20 and .25

2-90 days or until disposition

Yes

Discretionary

Yes

Yes

Fla.

.20

6 months for DUI

After 30 days

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) convictions

Impoundment, vehicle forfeiture

Yes

Yes

Yes

12 months for refusal

After 90 days

Ga.

.15

1 year

Yes

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Guam

From .08 to .10

Discretionary

Yes

Yes

Hawaii

.15

3 months

After 30 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

Idaho

.20

90 days

After 30 days

Discretionary

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ill.

.16

6 months

After 30 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Impoundment, vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Ind.

.15

180 days

After 30 days

Discretionary

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Iowa

.15

180 days

After 30 days

Discretionary

Yes

Yes

Kan.

.15

30 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ky.

.18

30 – 120 days

Yes

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) and repeat convictions

(eff. 6/24/15)

Impoundment

Yes

Yes

Yes

La. ¹

.15 and .20

See footnote

Mandatory for all convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Maine

.15

90 days

Yes

Highly incentivized for all convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Md.

.15

45 days

Yes, under certain circum-

stances

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) convictions

Yes

Yes

Mass.

.20 (applies to ages 17-21)

90 days

Yes

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Mich.²

.17

See footnote

After 45 days

Mandatory for high BAC convictions, restricted driving conditions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Minn.

.20

90 days

After 15 days

Mandatory for high BAC and repeat convictions

Impoundment, vehicle confiscation, special plates/

markings

Yes

Yes

Miss.

90 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Impoundment, vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Mo.

.15

90 days

After 0 days w/ interlock use (restricted)

After 30 days
(restricted)

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Vehicle forfeiture or impoundment (cities w/ 100,000+ allowed to enact ordinance)

Yes

Yes

Mont.

.16

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Impoundment, vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Neb.

.15

90 days

After 30 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Vehicle immobilization, continuous alcohol monitoring

Yes

Yes

Yes

Nev.

.18

90 days

After 45 days

Discretionary

Yes

Yes

N.H.

.16

6 months

Mandatory for high BAC convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

N.J.

.10

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) and repeat convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

N.M.

.16 (w/ mand. jail on all offenses)

<21: 1 yr.;

>21: 6 mo.

Immediately w/ Ignition Interlock

Mandatory for all convictions

Immobilization of vehicle for driving while revoked

Yes

Yes

N.Y.

.18

Yes

Yes

Mandatory for all convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

N.C.

.15

30 days

After 10 days

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) and repeat convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

N.D.

.18

91 days

After 30 days

Discretionary

Vehicle confiscation, license plate removal

Yes

Yes

M.P.

30 days –

<6 months

Yes

Yes

Ohio

.17

90 days

After 15 days

Discretionary

Impoundment, vehicle confiscation or immobilization, restricted plates

Yes

Yes

Okla.

.15

180 days

Yes

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15), repeat convictions, and refusals

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ore.

.15

90 days

After 30 days

Mandatory for all convictions and diversions

Yes

Yes

Pa. ³

.16

See footnote

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

R.I.

.10 and .15

Judicial discretion on 2rd or subsequent conviction

Judicial discretion on 3rd or subsequent conviction

Yes

S.C.

.15

1 month (for >.15 BAC)

Yes

Mandatory for repeat convictions and for first-time offenders convicted of having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15% or higher

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Yes

S.D. ⁴

.17

See footnote

Yes

Discretionary

Yes

Tenn.

.20

Mandatory for all convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Texas

.15

90 days if .08 or greater; 180 days for refusal

Yes

Mandatory for repeat convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Utah

.16

120 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Impoundment

Yes

Yes

Yes

Vt.

90 days

Discretionary

Impoundment, vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

V.I.

Variable

Yes

Revoke license plate

Yes

Yes

Va.

.15 and .20

7 days

Mandatory for all convictions

Vehicle confiscation

Yes

Yes

Wash.

.15

90 days

With an ignition interlock driver’s license

Mandatory for all convictions

Mandatory tow and 12 hour impound

Yes

W.Va.

.15

6 months

After 30 days

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) and repeat convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wis.

.17, .20 and .25

6 months

Yes

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) and repeat convictions

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wy.

.15

90 days

Yes

Mandatory for high BAC (>.15) and repeat convictions

Yes

Total States

48 + D.C., 1 Terr.

42 + D.C., 2 Terr.

36 + D.C., 1 Terr.

Mandatory For

All (20)

High BAC (4)

Repeat (8)

High BAC & Repeat (8)Disc.:

10 + D.C.

Varies

31 + 3 Terr.

26 + D.C., 3 Terr.

37