Idaho DUI/DWI Laws
Quick Overview of Penalties for DUI/DWI
- BAC Percentage for Increased (Aggravated) Penalty – .20
- License Suspension for 1st Offense – Yes
- Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension – Yes
- Ignition Interlock – Possibility (at the discretion of the judge)
- Vehicle and License Plate Sanctions – None
General State Information
- State Penal Code – ID Statutes section 18-8004
- Open Container Laws – None
- Repeat Offender Laws – Yes
- Check Points – None (illegal under state law)
- Alcohol Exclusion Laws Limiting Treatment – Yes
Understanding DUI/DWI Penalties
There are four main factors that determine the severity of the penalties incurred:
- The age of the driver
- The substance impairing you. This may be drugs, or alcohol, or both
- The category of your driver’s license (Restricted, CDL)
- Whether you refused a chemical test
Chemical Test Refusal
– Every state has some version of the “Implied Consent” law
– This law carries serious consequences for refusing a chemical test
– The penalties for refusing a chemical test in Idaho are:
1st Refusal
- 1 year license suspension
- $250 fine
2nd Refusal
- 2 year license suspension
- $250 fine
3rd Refusal
- 2 year license suspension
- $250 fine
Lookback Period
- In Idaho the lookback period is 5 years
- Any arrest for DUI/DWI within 5 years of your first offense results in higher penalties
Zero Tolerance
Drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02% or more will be charged with DUI/DWI
A BAC of .08% and above will result in the same penalties as drivers 21 and over
Penalties for Underage Drivers (under 21)
1st Offense
- 1 year license suspension
- $1000 fine (maximum)
2nd Offense
- license suspension (1 year minimum, 2 year maximum)
- $500 – $2000 fine
- Prison (if BAC is between .02% – .05% = 5 to 30 days, if BAC is above .08% = 10 days to 1 year)
DUI/DWI Penalties/Alcohol/Drug related (Non-Aggravated)
1st Offense
- license suspension (90 day minimum, 3 month maximum)
- $1000 fine (maximum)
- Prison (6 month maximum sentence)
2nd Offense
- mandatory 1 year license suspension
- $2000 fine (maximum)
- Prison (10 day minimum, 1 year maximum)
- Installation of Ignition Interlock Device
DUI/DWI Penalties/Alcohol/Drug related (Aggravated)
1st Offense
- mandatory 1 year license suspension
- $2000 fine (maximum)
- Prison (10 day minimum, 1 year maximum)
2nd Offense
- mandatory 1 year license suspension (up to 5 years maximum)
- $5000 fine (maximum)
- Prison (30 day minimum in county jail, 5 year maximum in the state penitentiary)
- Installation of Ignition Interlock Device
CDL Drivers (Commercial)
- Those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are held to a stricter standard
- Accordingly, their BAC threshold is significantly lower (0.04%), and the penalties incurred are often much more severe
- An initial DUI conviction in a passenger or commercial vehicle will result in a one year CDL suspension
- A second DUI conviction in a passenger or commercial vehicle will result in a permanently revoked CDL.
SR-22 Insurance Requirements
- SR-22 Insurance is a requirement in many states as a condition of restoring your driving privileges
- Most, but not all states have SR-22 statutes
- In Idaho an SR-22 must be filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before your driving privileges can be restored
- You must maintain your SR-22 for 1 year following the restoration of your driving privileges
- Should you lapse at any point, your insurance company will inform the DMV and your license will be revoked
Wet Reckless
- Wet Reckless is a general term that refers to a plea bargain that may reduce the severity of the charge against you
- Idaho does allow for plea bargains in DUI/DWI cases
- This allows you to avoid a criminal record
- Any subsequent DUI/DWI arrests within the look-back period will reverse the original plea bargain
- The reckless driving will revert back to a full DUI/DWI conviction and lead to enhanced penalties in this case
- This plea bargain is typically only allowed for first time offenders with no aggravating factors involved
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