Related Questions from DMV Answers

• What are the DUI laws in my state?

  • Laws and Legal Info > DUI and DWI

  The legal blood alcohol limit (BAC) for all states is .08 percent. That means it's illegal to drive with a BAC at or above that limit. However, drivers under the age of 21 frequently face tougher drunk driving restrictions. Please view the list below to see the rules for your state. As you'll notice, in some states it's illegal to drive with any amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. Keep in mind these rules sometimes change, so consult with your state's driver's license division to make sure the information is accurate. If you're caught driving with an illegal amount of alcohol in your body, you'll deal with serious consequences that can include a license suspension or revocation, jail time, fines, probation, and DUI/DWI school. Considering this, it's smart to think about hiring a..

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• What are the drinking and driving laws in my state?

  • Laws and Legal Info > DUI and DWI

  Driving is a privilege, not a legal right. If you place yourself or other motorists in danger, you may have your license taken away. This means it's very important to make sure you understand your state's laws regarding drunk driving. Currently, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have DUI laws that make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. However, there are some differences in state interpretations of other laws relating to drunk driving. For example, people convicted of a DUI or DWI in every state but Alabama, South Dakota, and Vermont may be required to make sure their vehicles are equipped with ignition interlocks that disable the ignition if the driver has been drinking alcohol. Depending upon where you live..

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• What are the alcohol laws regarding teens?

  • Laws and Legal Info > DUI and DWI

  Every state now employs strict alcohol laws for teens under the term "Zero Tolerance." This means that it is illegal for any teen driver to operate a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in his or her system. Even if the teen's blood alcohol count (BAC) registers at .01, or if the arresting officer smells a hint of alcohol on the driver's breath, he or she will face a list of DUI penalties ranging from fines to possible license suspension.  If you're pulled over for drunk driving you should consider hiring a DUI lawyer, someone who understands the DUI rules of your state. Their expertise with DUI or DWI cases, can help minimize the penalties and possibly even keep your driving record clean. This is especially important as a young driver. Getting labeled as a high risk driver at a young..

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• When does a DUI misdemeanor become a DUI felony?

  • Laws and Legal Info > DUI and DWI

  Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) is defined as the act of operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol or any other intoxicating substance. The legal limit in all 50 states is a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 percent. The penalties for drunk driving tend to differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A DWI is usually considered to be a misdemeanor, but some cases it can be regarded as a felony. According to federal law, the term felony is used to refer to any criminal offense which is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year. A misdemeanor refers to any criminal offense which is punishable by imprisonment for one year or less. Generally, a DUI is a felony when it's a repeated offense. A DUI felony may also be when a death or..

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• What is the DUI penalty for a third DUI conviction?

  • Laws and Legal Info > DUI and DWI > DWI and DUI Penalties

  This grid below lists, by state, the kinds of penalties you can expect upon a third DUI or DWI conviction. Use the grid as a reference, but note that it’s best to consult a DUI lawyer if you’ve been arrested for drunk driving. DUI laws vary from state to state and offense to offense, but sometimes they also vary from individual case to individual case. For example, your state might list jail time as a third-offense DUI penalty, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s mandatory – it might be up to the judge and, in some states, the judge can substitute jail time with home confinement. It’s also good to have an attorney who specializes in DUI and DWI cases present in order to discuss with the judge the possibility of a hardship license or participation in..

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