DUI/DWI News

Key State Laws Enacted to Prevent Impaired Driving

Illegal Per Se Laws make it illegal in and of itself to drive a motor vehicle with a BAC concentration at or above an established level. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have per se laws defining it as a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration at or above a proscribed level, .08 percent.

Dram Shop/Social Host Liability Laws state that a person who serves alcoholic beverages to intoxicated individuals may be liable for the damages caused by such individuals. In some states, a server may also be liable for injuries sustained by intoxicated individuals.

Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) Laws make it illegal for individuals younger than 21 to purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages or to misrepresent their age to obtain such beverages.

Zero Tolerance Laws make it illegal for drivers younger than 21 to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system—regardless of the BAC limit for drivers over 21. Many states set the limit for drivers under 21 at .02 BAC or below to help reduce legal challenges based on claims that mouthwash, gum or cold medicine can be responsible for a positive but very low BAC measurement.

Open Container Laws prohibit the possession of any open alcoholic beverage container and the consumption of any alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle.

Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Laws involve license suspension or revocation following conviction for impaired driving.

Repeat Intoxicated Driver Laws establish a minimum penalty for individuals convicted of a second or subsequent offense for driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence. Laws require a minimum of one-year driver’s license suspension.

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	Did You Know?
	Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (while driving intoxicated) One state defines this as Class A Felony If any of the following conditions are present: Two or more prior (a) DUI convictions or Vehicular or (b) Vehicular Assault convictions or (c) any combination One prior Vehicular Homicide A BAC of .20 or greater at the time of the vehicular homicide and has one (1) prior DUI or Vehicular Assault offense