States With the Toughest DUI Laws

Arizona, Georgia, and Alaska are often cited as having the toughest DUI laws. A combination of harsh penalties like mandatory jail time for first-time offenders, high fines, and immediate license suspension. Arizona is frequently singled out for its strict approach, requiring immediate license confiscation and mandatory ignition interlock devices for all offenders. Other states with tough laws include Massachusetts for its long potential jail sentences for first-time offenders and Washington for high fines and mandatory IID use.  

States with the strictest DUI laws

• Arizona: Often considered the leader in strict enforcement, the state mandates immediate license confiscation upon arrest and requires all DUI offenders, including first-time violators, to install ignition interlock devices. Penalties for first-time offenders include mandatory jail time and significant fines. 
• Georgia: Features strict laws that are often ranked among the toughest in the nation. 
• Alaska: Imposes high minimum fines for first-time DUI offenders and has a long lookback period for repeat offenders. 
• Massachusetts: Can impose the longest potential jail sentences for first-time offenders, with penalties up to 2.5 years. 
• Utah: Criminalizes being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle while impaired and mandates ignition interlock devices for all offenders. 
• Washington: Features some of the highest potential fines, reaching up to $5,000 for a first offense, along with a 90-day license suspension just for being pulled over. 

Factors contributing to strictness

• Immediate license suspension: Some states, like Arizona, implement immediate suspension upon arrest, separate from criminal proceedings. 
• Mandatory ignition interlock devices (IIDs): Many states now require IIDs for all offenders, which is a key strategy recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reduce recidivism. 
• Mandatory jail time: Some states, including Arizona, mandate jail time even for a first offense. 
• Strict lookback periods: States like Texas and Alaska have long lookback periods to consider prior offenses when sentencing.