Your Orthopaedic Connection: DUI/DWI Laws

DUI/DWI Laws

	BAC Defined as Illegal Per Se*	Admin. License Suspension 1st Offense**	Restore Driving Privileges During Suspension?***
Alabama	0.08	90 days	no
Alaska	0.08	90 days	after 30 days
Arizona	0.08	90 days	after 30 days
Arkansas	0.08	120 days	yes
California	0.08	4 months	after 30 days
Colorado	0.10	3 months	yes
Connecticut	0.10	90 days	yes
Delaware	0.10	3 months	no
Dist of Columbia	0.08	2-90 days	yes
Florida	0.08	6 months	yes
Georgia	0.08	1 year	yes
Hawaii	0.08	3 months	after 30 days
Idaho	0.08	90 days	after 30 days
Illinois	0.08	3 months	after 30 days
Indiana	0.08	180 days	after 30 days
Iowa	0.10	180 days	yes
Kansas	0.08	30 days	no
Kentucky	0.08	----	----
Louisiana	0.10/0.08 eff.9/30/03	90 days	after 30 days
Maine	0.08	90 days	yes
Maryland	0.08	45 days	yes
Massachusetts	None*	90 days	no
Michigan	0.10	----	----
Minnesota	0.10	90 days	after 15 days
Mississippi	0.10	90 days	no
Missouri	0.08	30 days	no
Montana	0.10	----	----
Nebraska	0.08	90 days	after 30 days
Nevada	0.10	90 days	after 45 days
New Hampshire	0.08	6 months	no
New Jersey	0.10	----	-----
New Mexico	0.08	90 days	after 30 days
New York	0.10	variable	yes
North Carolina	0.08	30 days	after 10 days
North Dakota	0.10	91 days	after 30 days
Ohio	0.10	90 days	after 15 days
Oklahoma	0.08	180 days	yes
Oregon	0.08	90 days	after 30 days
Pennsylvania	0.10	----	-----
Rhode Island	0.08	----	----
South Carolina	0.10	----	----
South Dakota	0.10	----	----
Tennessee	0.10	----	----
Texas	0.08	60 days	yes
Utah	0.08	90 days	no
Vermont	0.08	90 days	no
Virginia	0.08	7 days	no
Washington	0.08	90 days after	30 days
West Virginia	0.10	6 months	after 30 days
Wisconsin	0.10	6 months	yes
Wyoming	0.10	90 days	yes

* Law in Massachusetts is not per se law. A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 in Massachusetts is evidence of alcohol impairment, but is not illegal per se.

** Information applies only to BAC defined as illegal per se for all drivers, not the special BAC for young drivers.

*** Drivers must usually demonstrate special hardship to justify restoring priileges during suspension and then privileges are often restricted.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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Last reviewed and updated: July 2007

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Your Orthopaedic Connection
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
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Rosemont, IL 60018
Phone: 847.823.7186
Email: orthoinfo@aaos.org