Expert Advice for DWI
All Articles on DWI
Is Your License Suspended Immediately After a DUI?
Each state’s policies on license suspension following a DUI arrest varies, but you may face a suspension between 10 and 40 days after your arrest date.
Mary Cahill
Does Progressive Insurance Cover DUI Accidents?
Progressive insurance will cover a DUI accident up to the limits of your existing insurance policy, but your premium will increase if you’re convicted of DUI.
Mary Cahill
How to Reinstate a Suspended License in a Different State
To reinstate a suspended license in a different state, you first need to satisfy any requirements set by your old state. Click here to learn more.
Andrew Biro
Can Passengers Drink Alcohol in a Car in Texas?
Generally, passengers are not allowed to drink alcohol while riding in a car in Texas, though there are a couple of exceptions.
Nathan Porceng
Open Container Laws in Pennsylvania
Under Pennsylvania’s open container law, you can be fined $300 for having any opened container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car.
Mariza Morin
Open Container Laws in South Carolina
Under South Carolina’s open container law, you can receive $100 in fines or up to 30 days in jail for having an opened container of alcohol in your car.
Mariza Morin
Open Container Laws in Rhode Island
Under Rhode Island’s open container law, you can be fined $200 for having any opened container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car.
Mariza Morin
Open Container Laws in South Dakota
Under South Dakota’s open container law, you can receive $500 in fines or up to 30 days in jail for having an opened container of alcohol in your car.
Mariza Morin
Open Container Laws in Virginia
An open container of alcohol inside the passenger area of a vehicle can quickly lead to a DUI charge in Virginia.
Matt Nightingale
Open Container Laws in Nebraska
Per Nebraska’s open container law, you can be fined $500 for having an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a car, even if parked.
Maxine Boyko
Open Container Laws in West Virginia
West Virginia law prohibits consuming any alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a vehicle whether driving or parked. Violators may be fined up to $100.
Mary Cahill
Open Container Laws in Vermont
In Vermont, it’s illegal to have an open container of alcohol in your car—and an open container of marijuana is worse.
Matt Nightingale
Open Container Laws in New Hampshire
Under New Hampshire’s open container law, you could face a $150 fine and license suspension for having an open container of alcohol in a car.
Maxine Boyko
Open Container Laws in Washington
In Washington, you can be fined up to $250 for having an open container of an alcoholic beverage in your vehicle.
Mary Cahill
Open Container Laws in New Jersey
Under New Jersey’s open container law, having an open container of alcohol in your vehicle can result in a $250 fine and 10 days of community service.
Maxine Boyko
Open Container Laws in Nevada
Breaking Nevada’s open container law can result in a $1,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail.
Maxine Boyko
Open Container Laws in Minnesota
Under Minnesota’s open container law, you can be fined $1,000 for having any opened container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car.
Ethan Moser
Open Container Laws in Ohio
In Ohio, you can be fined $150 for having any opened container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car, even if you’re completely sober.
Sara Brody
Open Container Laws in Oregon
In Oregon, you can be fined a maximum of $1,000 for having any opened container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car, even if you’re completely sober.
Sara Brody
Open Container Laws in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, you can be fined a maximum of $500 for having any opened container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car, and you also risk jail time.
Sara Brody
Open Container Laws in Kentucky
Kentucky’s open container law states that you will be fined between $35 and $100 for transporting unsealed alcohol in the passenger area of your vehicle.
Kate Kirby
Open Container Laws in Idaho
Idaho drivers can face $1,000 fines, 6 months in jail, and a misdemeanor charge for driving with an open container in their vehicle.
Max Werner
Open Container Laws in Utah
Utah has some of the strictest open container laws in the U.S.—and they apply to more vehicles than just cars and trucks, like golf carts.
Cassandra Hamilton
Open Container Laws in Maine
The open container law in Maine states that you could be cited between $25 and $500 for transporting an unsealed alcohol container in the passenger area of your vehicle.
Kate Kirby
Open Container Laws in Kansas
The Kansas open container law states that if you carry unsealed alcohol in your vehicle, you could be charged with a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $200.
Kate Kirby
Open Container Laws in Louisiana
Violating the open container law in Louisiana by having unsealed alcohol in the passenger area of your vehicle could result in a fine of up to $100.
Kate Kirby
Open Container Laws in Hawaii
The fine for driving with an open container in Hawaii is $2,000. This applies to any unsealed container within the range of a driver or passenger.
Max Werner
Open Container Laws in Georgia
Under Georgia’s open container law, you can be fined $200 for having any opened container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car on a public road.
Macy Fouse
Open Container Laws in Florida
Under Florida’s open container law, you could be fined up to $90 for having an unsealed container of alcohol in the passenger area of your car—even if you’re parked.
Macy Fouse
Open Container Laws in Montana
In Montana, driving on highways or public roads with an open container of alcohol in your car could incur a $100 fine.
Jasmine Kanter
All Questions on DWI
What are the consequences of impaired driving?
What happens if you’re caught driving while impaired in some way? Do the charges change if you’re caught driving drunk versus high? I’m doing a presentation about this for class and I’m still confused.
Liz Jenson
How long will you have a drunk driving conviction on your record?
I was convicted of a DUI six years ago when I was young and careless. I am worried about it showing up in a background check for a prospective employer. How long will this stay on my record?
Mary Cahill
Can you get a DUI for driving high in California?
If I get pulled over while high in California, will I get a DUI? I get that there are probably consequences for it, but is the punishment still the same?
Liz Jenson
Can you get a DUI for driving hungover?
Will I get a DUI if I get pulled over while hungover? I wouldn’t think that being hungover would earn you a DUI, but I’m not sure how long you have to wait before driving.
Liz Jenson
Can you appeal a drunk driving conviction?
Is it possible to appeal a drunk driving conviction? I tried to defend myself in court, but it did not go well. I’m hoping that if I appeal (with a lawyer this time), I’ll be able to overturn the conviction, or at least lessen the charge.
Liz Jenson
How can I get a driving work permit in Minnesota?
I had my license revoked but would like to get a driving work permit. How do I get a driving work permit in Minnesota?
Jason Tushinski
What is the legal alcohol limit for driving in California?
Sometimes, after work, I have a few beers with my colleagues and drive home. My wife is worried I could be pulled over, but I never get behind the wheel when I feel at all drunk. What is the legal alcohol limit for driving in California?
Sara Brody
How long should you wait per drink before driving?
I’m going out with some friends this weekend, but none of us wants to be the designated driver. I said I’d do it, but we’d have to wait for me to sober up before heading home. I don’t know how long that actually takes, though. How many hours after drinking can I drive?
Michelle Ballestrasse
What is the alcohol limit for driving in the USA?
I’m a Canadian going on a road trip across the USA this summer. I will probably have a few drinks at a bar some evenings before heading back to the hotel, but I don’t want to risk a drunk driving conviction in another country. What is the alcohol limit for driving in the USA?
Cassandra Hamilton
Is buzzed driving illegal?
I keep seeing public service announcements about how buzzed driving is illegal. After work, I usually join my co-workers for a drink or two—but I wouldn’t say I’m buzzed. What is considered buzzed driving?
Eric Schad
How do I get a driving work permit in MN?
I recently made a few bad choices that resulted in my first ever DWI, and I lost my license for 90 days. But because my BAC was below 0.16, I’m apparently allowed to get a work permit, which I definitely need to get to and from my office. How do you apply for a Minnesota DWI work permit?
Michelle Ballestrasse
What does alcohol do to your driving skills and judgment?
I’m doing a report on driving under the influence. I don’t drink, so I don’t really know what it’s like. How does alcohol affect drivers?
Liz Jenson
What happens if I get a ticket for driving with a revoked/suspended license and miss court?
I lost my license when I got a DUI the first and only one I've got but I never completed the DUI class to get my license back years ago then was stopped driving later on.
Emily Maracle
How long can you be in jail for drunk driving?
I’ve never had a DUI before, but my friend and I were talking about it one night. He said that a DUI has no jail time, but I thought it came with a certain amount of time in the slammer. How long can you be in jail for a drunk driving charge?
Eric Schad
What blood alcohol level is classified as driving while intoxicated?
I learned in driving school that you can only get a driving while intoxicated (DWI) ticket if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. My friend says it depends on your size and how drunk you seem during a field sobriety test. Who’s right? What blood alcohol level is classified as driving while intoxicated?
Cassandra Hamilton
When feeling ill, should I take medication before driving?
I’ve been feeling sick for a while, but I need to go to the store and run errands. Being sick makes me groggy, which isn’t great for driving. Is taking medication before driving safe?
Michelle Ballestrasse
How does drinking and driving affect other drivers?
I’ve never tried it but I’ve seen a few TV shows where the characters are drinking a beer while driving. What are the consequences of drinking and driving?
Kevin Martinez
How does marijuana affect driving?
I just moved to Illinois from Indiana, and legal weed shops are everywhere. I’m not used to this being legal, let alone seeing people puff a joint at a bar and then drive away. As far as I know, marijuana impacts driving every bit as much as alcohol, but I’m not positive. How does marijuana affect people behind the wheel?
Eric Schad
How can I reduce my drunk driving license suspension?
I’ve made a huge mistake and got my license suspended for drunk driving. I don’t know how I’m going to get to work now that I have a driving ban. Are there any ways I can reduce my license suspension?
Macy Fouse
Can you be arrested for drunk driving after the fact?
A buddy of mine was bragging the other night on social media about how he’d had a few drinks downtown and managed to drive home without hitting any sobriety checkpoints. Apart from how idiotic it is to drink and drive, I told him that he can still get a DUI if he’s bragging about it. He bet me twenty bucks I was wrong, so can he still be arrested for drunk driving after the fact?
Michelle Ballestrasse
What is aggravated driving while intoxicated?
I was charged with an aggravated DWI about a week ago, and I’m scared about what’s going to happen. I’ve read up on what I can do in cases of DWI, but I’m not sure how the aggravated charge is different. What is aggravated driving when intoxicated?
Eric Schad
Can you get a DUI for driving high in Iowa?
One of my friends recently got pulled over and smelled like weed at the time. I’m not sure what will happen to him and I’m worried. Do you get a DUI if you get pulled over while you’re high in the state of Iowa?
Liz Jenson
What is the legal alcohol limit for driving in Arizona?
I would never drive while drunk, but sometimes I’ll have a drink with colleagues after work and drive home after. I’m worried that if I were pulled over for another reason, I could get a DUI even though I feel safe driving. What is the legal alcohol limit for driving in Arizona?
Sara Brody
What groups are working to solve drinking and driving?
I want to volunteer with a group that is advocating against drinking and driving. Could you tell me what groups are working to solve drinking and driving?
Rob Shapiro
Is impaired driving a DUI?
Is there a difference between driving while impaired and a DUI? I keep hearing them used interchangeably, but I thought they weren’t the same.
Tiffany Leung
How do depressants affect driving?
I’ve read that depressants affect driving in a number of ways, but I’m not sure what they are. Do depressants affect driving and how so?
Eric Schad
When is a drinking and driving conviction spent?
How long will a drunk driving conviction stay on my driving record? I’m going to start applying for jobs next year, but I got a drunk driving conviction when I was a senior in high school and I’m worried that I won’t be able to get the jobs I want.
Liz Jenson
How long does a drunk driving conviction last?
How long will a drunk driving conviction stay on my driving record? I haven’t actually been convicted yet, but I want to know what kind of timeframe I can expect.
Liz Jenson
Is it illegal to drink kombucha while driving?
I love kombucha. I drink one or two a day. But after talking with one of my friends, I’m nervous. He told me that you could possibly get a DUI while drinking kombucha behind the wheel. Can I get a DUI for drinking kombucha tea?
Eric Schad
Does health insurance cover drunk driving accidents?
I just got my first job that offers health insurance. About three months ago, my friend was injured in a drunk driving accident where the other driver was cited with a DUI. Now that I have insurance, I wasn’t sure if it applied to this situation. If I got into a drunk driving accident, would my health insurance cover it?
Eric Schad
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