With drunk driving causing nearly a third of all motor vehicle fatalities and with penalties for DUI varying widely by state, the leading personal finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of2015’s Strictest and Most Lenient States on DUI.
To help drivers understand which states impose the harshest penalties on drunk drivers, WalletHub analyzed the enforcement rules in each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia across 15 key metrics. Data included minimum jail sentences to ignition interlock device requirements that drastically reduce repeat arrests of previously convicted drunk drivers.
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Strictest States on DUI |
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Most Lenient States on DUI |
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1 |
Arizona |
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T-41 |
New Jersey |
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2 |
Alaska |
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T-41 |
Ohio |
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3 |
Connecticut |
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43 |
Vermont |
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4 |
West Virginia |
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44 |
Kentucky |
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5 |
Kansas |
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45 |
Wisconsin |
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6 |
Nebraska |
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46 |
Montana |
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7 |
Utah |
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47 |
Maryland |
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8 |
Virginia |
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48 |
North Dakota |
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T-9 |
Georgia |
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49 |
Pennsylvania |
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T-9 |
Washington |
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50 |
District of Columbia |
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T-9 |
Delaware |
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51 |
South Dakota |
North Carolina was among the states in the middle, ranking 27th in the report.
Arizona has the longest minimum jail term (10 days) for first-time offenders, while West Virginia has the longest minimum sentence (180 days) for second-time offenders.
In 37 states, alcohol abuse assessment and/or treatment are mandatory, while sobriety checkpoints are common in 39.
The installation of an “ignition Interlock device” is mandatory in 24 states after a first arrest with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. The same is true in another 14 states with a BAC higher than .15. In seven states, these devices are mandatory only after a second offense, and in six states the device is never required.
