Plain-English guides to every state's drunk driving laws
Drunk driving laws, state by state.
Penalties, license suspensions, hearing deadlines and what happens after an arrest, explained clearly for all 50 states.
Choose your state
Every state names the offense its own way: DUI, DWI, OWI, OUI or OVI. The label next to each state is the term its law uses.
- AlabamaComing soonDUI
- AlaskaComing soonOUI
- ArizonaDUI
- ArkansasComing soonDWI
- CaliforniaDUI
- ColoradoComing soonDUI
- ConnecticutComing soonOUI
- DelawareComing soonDUI
- FloridaDUI
- GeorgiaComing soonDUI
- HawaiiComing soonDUI
- IdahoComing soonDUI
- IllinoisComing soonDUI
- IndianaComing soonOWI
- IowaComing soonOWI
- KansasComing soonDUI
- KentuckyComing soonDUI
- LouisianaComing soonOWI
- MaineComing soonOUI
- MarylandComing soonDUI
- MassachusettsComing soonOUI
- MichiganComing soonOWI
- MinnesotaComing soonDWI
- MississippiComing soonDUI
- MissouriComing soonDWI
- MontanaComing soonDUI
- NebraskaComing soonDUI
- NevadaDUI
- New HampshireComing soonDWI
- New JerseyComing soonDWI
- New MexicoComing soonDUI
- New YorkDWI
- North CarolinaComing soonDWI
- North DakotaComing soonDUI
- OhioComing soonOVI
- OklahomaComing soonDUI
- OregonComing soonDUII
- PennsylvaniaComing soonDUI
- Rhode IslandComing soonDWI
- South CarolinaComing soonDUI
- South DakotaComing soonDUI
- TennesseeComing soonDUI
- TexasDWI
- UtahComing soonDUI
- VermontComing soonDUI
- VirginiaComing soonDWI
- WashingtonComing soonDUI
- West VirginiaComing soonDUI
- WisconsinComing soonOWI
- WyomingComing soonDUI
What every state guide covers
Penalties by offense
Jail, fines and probation for a first, second and third offense, in one table.
License suspension & DMV hearing
How long you could lose your license and the deadline to fight it.
BAC limits
The legal limit for adults, drivers under 21 and commercial drivers.
Implied consent & refusal
What happens if you refused a breath or blood test.
Ignition interlock
When a breath device is required in your car and for how long.
Your record
How long a conviction stays on your record and whether it can be sealed.
Common questions
Drunk driving law questions, answered
Quick answers to what people ask most. Your state guide has the details that apply where you were arrested.
What's the difference between DUI, DWI, OWI and OUI?
They're different names states use for the same basic offense: driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Some states use two terms for different levels of the offense. Your state guide explains the terms your state's law uses.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit?
For drivers 21 and over it's 0.08% in every state except Utah, where it's 0.05%. Limits are lower for commercial drivers and for drivers under 21.
Will I lose my license after an arrest?
In many states your license can be suspended by the DMV separately from the criminal case, often before any conviction. Most states let you challenge that suspension at a hearing, but only if you ask within a short deadline.
What if I refused the breath or blood test?
Every state has an implied consent law: by driving, you've agreed to chemical testing. Refusing usually brings its own license suspension, and in many states the refusal can be used as evidence in court.
Do I need a lawyer for a first offense?
You aren't required to have one, but a first offense can still mean a license suspension, fines and a criminal record. A DUI defense attorney in your state can explain your options and deadlines.
How long does it stay on my record?
It depends on the state. Many states count earlier offenses for a set number of years when deciding penalties for a new one, and some allow records to be sealed or expunged. Your state guide covers both.