US Blood Alcohol Limits by State
Every US jurisdiction enforces statutory per se blood alcohol limits. In 49 states, the non-commercial threshold is 0.08% BAC; Utah enforces 0.05% BAC. Commercial drivers nationwide face a 0.04% federal limit under 49 CFR § 382.201.
Detailed State Statutory Guides
Statutory Thresholds & Official Sources
Official Government Statutes| State Jurisdiction | Standard Per Se Limit | Commercial Driver (CDL) | Under-21 Zero Tolerance | Official Legal Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah → | 0.05% | 0.04% | 0.00% | Utah Code § 41-6a-502 |
| California | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.01% | California Vehicle Code § 23152 |
| Texas | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.00% | Texas Penal Code Chapter 49 |
| Florida | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.02% | Florida Statutes § 316.193 |
| New York | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.02% | New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.02% | 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 |
| Illinois | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.00% | Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/11-501 |
| Ohio | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.02% | Ohio Revised Code § 4511.19 |
| Georgia | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.02% | Official Code of Georgia § 40-6-391 |
| North Carolina | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.00% | North Carolina General Statutes § 20-138.1 |
| Michigan | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.02% | Michigan Compiled Laws § 257.625 |
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Rules
Under 49 CFR § 382.201, commercial motor vehicle operators across all 50 states are prohibited from reporting for duty or operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.04% or greater. Operating with a BAC of 0.04% or higher also subjects commercial drivers to mandatory disqualification under 49 CFR § 383.51.
Under-21 drivers nationwide are regulated by state zero-tolerance laws mandated under the federal National Minimum Drinking Age Act. Numerical thresholds range from 0.00% to 0.02% depending on state evidentiary standards.