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When did driving drunk become illegal?

Was driving drunk always illegal? My uncle told me it used to be fine back in the day. I’m happy that’s no longer the case if it’s true!

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Driving drunk first became illegal in 1910 in the state of
New York
. Under the first law of its kind, drunk driving was punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
Once New York adopted this law, other states followed suit as production of the Model T Ford began to increase and more drivers were on the road. However, only in July of 2004 did all 50 states finally impose a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit to define exactly what constitutes driving drunk.
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