Overall Rank	State	Min. Jail Time (1st conviction)	Min. Jail Time (2nd conviction)	DUI Is Automatic Felony	How Long Old DUI Factors Into Penalties	Administrative License Suspension	Vehicle Impound	Ignition Interlock Mandatory	Ignition Interlock Mandatory Period	Additional Penalties for High BAC	Mandatory Alcohol Assessment	Min. Fine (1st conviction)	Min. Fine (2nd conviction)	“No-Refusal” Sobriety Testing	Average Insurance Rate Increase After DUI	Child Endangerment Protection	Sobriety Checkpoints	Other Penalties	Total Score (See Methodology)
1	Arizona***	10 days	90 days	Third Offense	7 Years	90 days	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$750	$1750	Yes	37%	Yes	Yes	Yes	84.09%
2	Georgia**	10 days	90 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	360 days	No	2nd conviction	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$300	$600	Yes	47%	Yes	Yes	Yes	70.45%
3	Alaska	3 days	20 days	Third Offense	15 years	90 days	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .08	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	No	$1500	$3000	Yes	80%	Yes	No	No	65.00%
4	Kansas* ***	2 Days	90 days	Third Offense	10 years	30 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$750	$1250	Yes	46%	Yes	Yes	Yes	64.09%
4	Oklahoma***	10 days	5 days	Second Offense	10 years	180 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	18 months	above 0.15 BAC	No	$0	$0	Yes	28%	Yes	Yes	Yes	64.09%
6	Nebraska	7 days	30 days	Fourth Offense	15 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	No	$500	$500	Yes	58%	Yes	Yes	Yes	61.82%
7	Connecticut*	2 days	120 days	Third Offense	10 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.16 BAC	Yes	$500	$1000	No	100%	Yes	Yes	Yes	60.91%
8	Utah***	2 days	10 days	Third Offense	10 years	120 days	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .08	18 months	above 0.16 BAC	Yes	$1370	$1560	Yes	39%	Yes	Yes	No	60.45%
9	Delaware***	No minimum sentence	60 days	Third Offense	10 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	14 months	above 0.16 BAC	Yes	$500	$750	Yes	31%	Yes	Yes	No	55.91%
10	West Virginia	No minimum sentence	180 days	Third Offense	10 years	180 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	4.17 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$100	$1000	Yes	59%	Yes	Yes	No	54.55%
11	Colorado***	5 days	10 days	Fourth Offense	7 Years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	8 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$600	$600	Yes	34%	Yes	Yes	Yes	54.09%
12	Virginia	No minimum sentence	30 days	Third Offense	10 years	7 days	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .08	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$250	$500	Yes	42%	Yes	Yes	No	52.27%
13	Texas*	3 days	30 days	Third Offense	For Life	90 days	Yes	2nd conviction	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	No	$0	$0	Yes	44%	Yes	No	No	51.36%
14	Louisiana* ***	2 days	30 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	45 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$300	$750	Yes	62%	Yes	Yes	Yes	50.91%
15	Washington*	1 day	30 days	Fifth Offense	7 years	90 days	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$940.5	$1195	Yes	28%	Yes	No	No	50.45%
16	Oregon* ***	2 days	8 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$1000	$1500	No	26%	Yes	No	Yes	49.55%
17	Florida*	No minimum sentence	10 days	Third Offense	10 years	180 days	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .15	6 months	above 0.2 BAC	Yes	$500	$1000	Yes	40%	Yes	Yes	Yes	48.64%
18	Nevada***	2 days	10 days	Third Offense	7 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	3 months	above 0.18 BAC	Yes	$400	$750	Yes	29%	Yes	Yes	Yes	46.82%
19	Illinois	No minimum sentence	5 days	Third Offense	10 years	180 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.16 BAC	Yes	$0	$0	Yes	70%	Yes	Yes	Yes	46.36%
19	Tennessee	2 days	45 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	None	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.2 BAC	Yes	$350	$600	Yes	19%	Yes	Yes	No	46.36%
21	California	4 days	10 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	120 days	Yes	No	3 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$390	$390	Yes	103%	Yes	Yes	No	45.45%
22	Arkansas***	1 day	7 days	Fourth Offense	5 years	180 days	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$150	$400	No	68%	Yes	Yes	Yes	43.64%
22	Massachusetts	No minimum sentence	30 days	Third Offense	For Life	90 days	No	2nd conviction	24 months	above 0.2 BAC	No	$500	$600	No	67%	Yes	Yes	No	43.64%
24	Iowa**	2 Days	7 days	Third Offense	12 years	180 days	No	No	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	No	$625	$1875	No	60%	Yes	No	Yes	42.73%
25	Kentucky**	2 days	7 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	120 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	6 months	above 0.18 BAC	Yes	$200	$350	No	48%	Yes	Yes	Yes	42.27%
26	Hawaii	2 days	5 days	Fourth Offense	5 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$150	$500	No	62%	Yes	Yes	Yes	41.82%
27	Minnesota***	No minimum sentence	2 days	Second Offense	10 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	12 months	above 0.16 BAC	Yes	$0	$0	Yes	37%	Yes	No	Yes	40.45%
27	South Carolina***	2 days	5 days	Fourth Offense	10 Years	30 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$400	$2100	No	27%	Yes	Yes	Yes	40.45%
29	New Mexico	No minimum sentence	4 days	Fourth Offense	For Life	180 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0.16 BAC	No	$0	$500	No	46%	No	Yes	Yes	39.55%
29	New York	No minimum sentence	5 days	Second Offense	10 years	30 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	6 months	above 0.18 BAC	Yes	$500	$1000	No	49%	Yes	Yes	No	39.55%
31	New Hampshire***	No minimum sentence	17 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	180 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	12 months	above 0.16 BAC	Yes	$500	$750	No	79%	Yes	Yes	No	38.64%
32	Alabama***	No minimum sentence	48 hours	Fourth Offense	5 years	90 days	No	2nd conviction	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$600	$1100	Yes	54%	Yes	Yes	Yes	38.18%
33	Rhode Island	No minimum sentence	10 days	Third Offense	5 years	None	Yes	1st conviction / BAC .08	24 months	above 0.1 BAC	No	$100	$400	No	25%	Yes	No	Yes	37.27%
34	Missouri	No minimum sentence	No minimum sentence	Third Offense	5 years	90 days	No	2nd conviction	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$0	$0	Yes	39%	Yes	Yes	Yes	36.82%
35	Maine	No minimum sentence	7 days	None Offense	10 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	5 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$500	$700	Yes	56%	Yes	Yes	No	36.36%
35	North Carolina***	1 day	7 days	Fourth Offense	7 years	30 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	No	$200	$2000	Yes	112%	Yes	Yes	Yes	36.36%
37	Indiana	No minimum sentence	5 days	Second Offense	5 years	180 days	No	No	12 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$0	$0	Yes	56%	Yes	Yes	No	35.45%
37	Wisconsin***	No minimum sentence	5 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	180 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	12 months	above 0.17 BAC	Yes	$150	$350	Yes	51%	Yes	No	No	35.45%
37	Wyoming	No minimum sentence	7 days	Fourth Offense	10 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	6 months	above 0.15 BAC	Yes	$0	$200	No	52%	Yes	No	Yes	35.45%
40	Montana	1 day	7 days	Fourth Offense	For Life	None	No	2nd conviction	6 months	above 0.16 BAC	Yes	$600	$1200	No	39%	Yes	No	Yes	35.00%
41	Mississippi	No minimum sentence	5 days	Third Offense	5 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	3 months	above 0 BAC	No	$250	$600	Yes	27%	Yes	Yes	Yes	34.09%
42	Vermont***	No minimum sentence	2.5 days	Third Offense	For Life	90 days	Yes	2nd conviction	0 months	above 0 BAC	Yes	$0	$0	No	67%	No	Yes	No	33.64%
43	Michigan	No minimum sentence	5 days	Third Offense	7 years	None	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	12 months	above 0.17 BAC	Yes	$100	$200	Yes	9%	Yes	No	Yes	30.91%
43	Pennsylvania*	No minimum sentence	5 days	None Offense	10 Years	None	No	1st conviction / BAC .10	12 months	above 0.1 BAC	Yes	$300	$300	Yes	25%	Yes	Yes	No	30.91%
45	New Jersey	No minimum sentence	2 days	None Offense	10 years	None	No	1st conviction / BAC .15	6 months	above 0.1 BAC	Yes	$250	$500	No	47%	Yes	Yes	Yes	30.45%
46	Maryland	No minimum sentence	5 days	None Offense	5 years	90 days	No	1st conviction / BAC .08	12 months	above 0 BAC	Yes	$0	$0	Yes	51%	Yes	Yes	No	30.00%
47	Idaho	No minimum sentence	10 days	Third Offense	10 years	90 days	No	No	12 months	above 0.2 BAC	No	$0	$0	Yes	43%	Yes	No	No	29.55%
47	North Dakota	No minimum sentence	10 days	Fourth Offense	7 years	91 days	No	No	1.1 months	above 0.18 BAC	Yes	$500	$1500	Yes	33%	Yes	Yes	Yes	29.55%
49	Ohio***	3 days	10 days	Fourth Offense	6 years	90 days	No	2nd conviction	1.1 months	above 0.17 BAC	No	$375	$525	Yes	31%	Yes	Yes	No	28.64%
50	District of Columbia	No minimum sentence	No minimum sentence	None Offense	15 years	90 days	No	No	0 months	above 0.2 BAC	No	$0	$2500	No	30%	Yes	Yes	No	22.27%
51	South Dakota	No minimum sentence	No minimum sentence	Third Offense	10 years	30 days	No	No	0 months	above 0.17 BAC	No	$0	$0	Yes	27%	No	Yes	Yes	20.45%

Source: https://wallethub.com/edu/dui-penalties-by-state/13549/

 

Methodology

WalletHub examined 15 key metrics to identify the strictest and most lenient states for DUI offenses.

The metrics we used and our weighting of them are detailed below. Please note that in considering minimum penalties for DUI conviction, we did not take into account a judge’s potential ability to reduce or suspend the sentence at his or her own discretion, as doing so would reflect unreliable subjectivity, especially given the lack of data on the frequency with which judges exercise this option.

Criminal Penalties:

1. 1. A) Minimum jail time (for 1st conviction, minimum sentence only)
      • 10 days and over (10 points)
      • 8 – 9 days (8 points)
      • 6 -7 days (6 points)
      • 4 – 5 days (4 points)
      • 2 – 3 days (2 points)
      • 0 – 1 day (0 points)

      B) Minimum jail time (for 2nd conviction, minimum sentence only)

      • 60 days and over (7 points)
      • 50 – 59 days (6 points)
      • 40 – 49 days (5 points)
      • 30 – 39 days (4 points)
      • 20 – 29 days (3 points)
      • 10 – 19 days (1 point)
      • Under 10 days (0 points)

 

1. 1. When is DUI automatically considered a felony?
      • 2nd offense (5 points)
      • 3rd offense (4 points)
      • 4th offense (2 points)
      • 5th offense (1 point)
      • Never (0 points)

 

1. 1. How long does a previous DUI factor into penalties for a new DUI?
      • More than 12 years (4 points)
      • 12 years (3 points)
      • 10 years (2 points)
      • 7 years (1 point)
      • Under 7 years (0 points)

 

1. 1. Are there additional penalties for high BAC?
      • Over 0.10 (3 points)
      • Over 0.15 (2 points)
      • Over 0.16 or higher (1 point)
      • No (0 points)

 

1. 1. A) Minimum fine (for 1st conviction, minimum sentence only)
      • $1000 and over (3 points)
      • $600 – $999 (2 points)
      • $200 – $599 (1 point)
      • Under $200 (0 points)

      B) Minimum fine (for 2nd conviction, minimum sentence only)

      • $2000 and over (2 points)
      • $1200 – $1999 (1 point)
      • $400 – $1199 (0.5 points)
      • Under $400 (0 points)

 

1. Protection against child endangerment
   • Yes (1 point)
   • No (0 points)

Prevention:

1. 1. When is an ignition interlock mandatory?
      • 1st conviction with 0.08 BAC (5 points)
      • 1st conviction with 0.10 BAC (4 points)
      • 1st conviction with 0.15 BAC (3 points)
      • 2nd conviction (2 points)
      • Not mandatory (0 points)

 

1. 1. Is there an “administrative” license suspension after arrest (and before conviction)?
      • 120 days or more (4 points)
      • 90-120 days (3 points)
      • Less than 90 days (1 point)
      • No (0 points)

 

1. 1. How long is ignition interlock mandatory?
      • 6 months or more (3 points)
      • 3-6 months (2 points)
      • Ignition interlock period determined by court (1 point)

 

1. 1. Is alcohol abuse assessment and/or treatment mandatory?
      • Yes (2 points)
      • No (0 points)

 

1. 1. Vehicle Impound After Arrest
      • Yes (2 points)
      • No (0 points)

 

1. 1. Average insurance rate increase after DUI.
      • 100% or more increased cost (1 point)
      • Above 75% increase in cost (0.75 points)
      • Above 50% increase in cost (0.50 points)
      • Above 25% increase in cost (0.25 points)
      • Under 25% increase in cost (0 points)

 

1. 1. “No-refusal” initiative for rapid search warrants for sobriety testing
      • Yes (1 point)
      • No (0 points)

 

1. 1. Sobriety checkpoints
      • Yes (1 point)
      • No (0 points)

 

1. Other penalties
   • If a state has any other penalties (1 point)
   • No other penalties (0 points)

Total: 55 points

The final rankings were determined based on the total number of points each state accumulated. The highest score, correlating to the strictest state, was ranked first. Point totals were ultimately converted to percentages for comparison purposes.