Alaska Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI
Alaska driving rules: point system, speeding points, traffic school, how to pay or fight a ticket, license suspension, DUI limits and penalties.
Quick answers for Alaska
- Point system
- Yes. Convictions (or bail forfeitures) for moving violations in Alaska or any other state are assigned 2 to 10 points. AS 28.15.221–28.15.261; Alaska DMV Points page
- Points for speeding
- 3 to 9 mph over the limit: 2 points; 10 to 19 mph over: 4 points; 20 mph or more over: 6 points; speeding in a school zone or playground crosswalk: 6 points. Alaska DMV Points page (point values set by regulation)
- Legal BAC limit
- 0.08% for drivers generally (presumed under the influence); 0.04% for commercial motor vehicle drivers. Drivers under 21 face administrative revocation if a breath test shows any amount of alcohol. AS 28.35.030; Alaska DMV Driver Manual
- First-offense DUI penalties
- A first DUI is a class A misdemeanor carrying 10 points. After arrest with a breath result of 0.08% or more, the DMV revokes the license administratively for 90 days, separately from the court case. AS 28.35.030; Alaska DMV Driver Manual; Alaska DMV DUI Consequences page; Alaska Court System Vehicle and Traffic Offenses Booklet
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Tickets and points
| Point system | Yes. Convictions (or bail forfeitures) for moving violations in Alaska or any other state are assigned 2 to 10 points. Accumulating 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months requires the DMV to suspend or revoke the driving privilege, regardless of hardship. Drivers get a warning letter at the halfway mark. Provisional license holders with 6 or more points in 12 months or 9 or more in 24 months must complete a driver improvement course. |
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| Points for speeding | 3 to 9 mph over the limit: 2 points; 10 to 19 mph over: 4 points; 20 mph or more over: 6 points; speeding in a school zone or playground crosswalk: 6 points. The court cannot reduce or waive the points set for a violation. |
| How long points last | Points are reduced over time for clean driving: the DMV removes 2 points if there are no traffic convictions for 12 months after the last conviction, and gives one point of credit for each 12 consecutive months of licensed, violation-free driving within the 5 years before a point calculation. The DMV notes that DUI convictions stay on the record permanently. |
| Traffic school | Any driver may take a DMV-approved defensive driving course once every 12 months; after completion, the DMV deducts 2 points. The course reduces points but does not dismiss the ticket. The DMV advises paying the ticket before taking the course (unless contesting it in court), or the point credit may not apply. A driver may ask the judge to subtract the course cost from the fine (form TR-405); the judge decides. |
| Paying or fighting a ticket | For an 'Optional Court Appearance' ticket, within 30 days either plead no contest and pay the fine and surcharge, or plead not guilty to request a trial. For a 'Correctable' ticket, contact the citing agency within 30 days; a court clerk can dismiss a no-proof-of-insurance or no-license citation if you show the insurance or license was valid at the time of the stop. For a 'Mandatory Court Appearance' ticket, appear on the listed date or file a not-guilty plea before it. If you do not respond within 30 days, the court sends a warning giving 15 more days, then enters a default judgment; collection can include taking your Permanent Fund Dividend. |
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Pay or look up a ticket online through the Alaska Court System's records site (records.courts.alaska.gov). For an Optional Court Appearance citation, within 30 days enter a No Contest plea and pay the fine and surcharge, or plead not guilty; Mandatory Court Appearance citations require appearing on the listed date. If you do not respond within 30 days you get a warning notice with 15 more days, then the court can enter a default judgment including $70 in court and collection costs; $35 per case in collection costs applies if the fine is not paid by the date the court ordered. Request more time with form TR-218 before the due date. |
License suspension
| License suspension | The DMV must suspend for points accumulation, for operating or owning an uninsured vehicle involved in a crash, and for driving in violation of license restrictions. Revocation is required for convictions including DUI, chemical-test refusal, driving while suspended or revoked, reckless driving, leaving an injury crash, and eluding police. A suspension continues past its end date until the driver reinstates, pays a reinstatement fee, and files proof of future financial responsibility (usually an SR-22). |
|---|---|
| Hardship or restricted license | No limited 'work purpose' license is available for a points suspension or a refusal revocation. After a misdemeanor DUI, a limited license may be available after the first 30 days (first offense) or 90 days (later offenses), with an ignition interlock in every vehicle driven, SR-22 insurance and a $100 application fee. A felony-DUI limited license requires participation in or completion of a Wellness/Therapeutic Court. A limited license for work or medical care may be available after a mandatory-insurance suspension if there was no such suspension in the previous 10 years. |
| Checking and reinstating a license | Reinstatement steps depend on why the license was lost; most cases are submitted through DMV Online Services (myAlaska). Typical steps: complete and sign the D1 application, pass the written test and vision test if required, provide SR-22 proof dated within 30 days if required, take a road test if revoked more than 5 years, and pay the reinstatement fee through the electronic invoice emailed to you. Reinstatement fees: $100 for one administrative action (non-DUI), $200 for one DUI/refusal, $250 for one DUI/refusal plus any administrative actions, $250 for two administrative actions, $500 for two DUIs/refusals plus any administrative actions, in addition to the license fee. Questions: (907) 269-5551. Fees: https://dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/license-fees/ |
DUI / DWI
| Legal BAC limit | 0.08% for drivers generally (presumed under the influence); 0.04% for commercial motor vehicle drivers. Drivers under 21 face administrative revocation if a breath test shows any amount of alcohol. |
|---|---|
| First-offense DUI penalties | A first DUI is a class A misdemeanor carrying 10 points. After arrest with a breath result of 0.08% or more, the DMV revokes the license administratively for 90 days, separately from the court case. After a DUI or refusal conviction, an ignition interlock device is required for at least 6 months. The DMV's list of typical first-DUI consequences includes 3 days in jail, $1,500 in court fines, 30-day loss of the vehicle, and SR-22 insurance. The jail and fine figures come from the DMV's consequences list; the statutory minimum sentence was not read directly from the statute. |
| When a DUI is a felony | DUI is a class C felony if the person has two or more prior DUI-type convictions since January 1, 1996 and within the 10 years before the current offense, or if the person received felony DUI or felony refusal punishment within the last 10 years. A felony DUI carries a fine of at least $10,000, at least 60 months of ignition interlock after the license is restored, and mandatory jail time that rises with the number of prior convictions (for example, at least 120 days with two priors). Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: Alaska Stat. § 28.35.030(n) |
| Refusing a breath test | Driving in Alaska means consenting to a breath test after a lawful DUI arrest. Refusal is a separate criminal offense (misdemeanor or felony depending on priors) and leads to DMV administrative revocation: 90 days for a first offense, 1 year with one prior DUI/refusal, 3 years with two, and 5 years with three or more. No limited license is issued after a refusal. A hearing must be requested in writing within 7 days of the notice. |
| DUI lookback period | Prior DUI or refusal convictions from Alaska or another state within the last 15 years are used to set the administrative revocation period. |
| How long a DUI stays on your record | A DUI conviction is entered on the Alaska driving record with 10 points. The DMV pages read do not say how long the DUI stays on the record. For the criminal case, the DUI statute says a court may not suspend imposition of sentence for a DUI conviction, and for later sentencing a prior conviction counts as a 'previous conviction' if it occurred within the 15 years before the new offense. Whether any process exists to remove or set aside a DUI conviction from the criminal record was not confirmed from an official page. |
Phones and distracted driving
| Phone and texting laws | Alaska prohibits texting while driving and driving with a visual screen device operating; the full list of prohibited uses is in AS 28.35.161. Whether handheld voice calls are restricted for adult drivers was not confirmed from an official page read for this record. |
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Where to get help in Alaska
Traffic Tickets & DUI FAQ
How does the driver point system work in Alaska?
Yes. Convictions (or bail forfeitures) for moving violations in Alaska or any other state are assigned 2 to 10 points. Accumulating 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months requires the DMV to suspend or revoke the driving privilege, regardless of hardship. Drivers get a warning letter at the halfway mark. Provisional license holders with 6 or more points in 12 months or 9 or more in 24 months must complete a driver improvement course.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Alaska?
3 to 9 mph over the limit: 2 points; 10 to 19 mph over: 4 points; 20 mph or more over: 6 points; speeding in a school zone or playground crosswalk: 6 points.
How long do points stay on your license in Alaska?
Points are reduced over time for clean driving: the DMV removes 2 points if there are no traffic convictions for 12 months after the last conviction, and gives one point of credit for each 12 consecutive months of licensed, violation-free driving within the 5 years before a point calculation. The DMV notes that DUI convictions stay on the record permanently.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Alaska?
Any driver may take a DMV-approved defensive driving course once every 12 months; after completion, the DMV deducts 2 points. The course reduces points but does not dismiss the ticket. The DMV advises paying the ticket before taking the course (unless contesting it in court), or the point credit may not apply. A driver may ask the judge to subtract the course cost from the fine (form TR-405); the judge decides.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Alaska?
Pay or look up a ticket online through the Alaska Court System's records site (records.courts.alaska.gov). For an Optional Court Appearance citation, within 30 days enter a No Contest plea and pay the fine and surcharge, or plead not guilty; Mandatory Court Appearance citations require appearing on the listed date. If you do not respond within 30 days you get a warning notice with 15 more days, then the court can enter a default judgment including $70 in court and collection costs; $35 per case in collection costs applies if the fine is not paid by the date the court ordered. Request more time with form TR-218 before the due date.
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in Alaska?
Reinstatement steps depend on why the license was lost; most cases are submitted through DMV Online Services (myAlaska). Typical steps: complete and sign the D1 application, pass the written test and vision test if required, provide SR-22 proof dated within 30 days if required, take a road test if revoked more than 5 years, and pay the reinstatement fee through the electronic invoice emailed to you. Reinstatement fees: $100 for one administrative action (non-DUI), $200 for one DUI/refusal, $250 for one DUI/refusal plus any administrative actions, $250 for two administrative actions, $500 for two DUIs/refusals plus any administrative actions, in addition to the license fee. Questions: (907) 269-5551.
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Alaska?
For an 'Optional Court Appearance' ticket, within 30 days either plead no contest and pay the fine and surcharge, or plead not guilty to request a trial. For a 'Correctable' ticket, contact the citing agency within 30 days; a court clerk can dismiss a no-proof-of-insurance or no-license citation if you show the insurance or license was valid at the time of the stop. For a 'Mandatory Court Appearance' ticket, appear on the listed date or file a not-guilty plea before it. If you do not respond within 30 days, the court sends a warning giving 15 more days, then enters a default judgment; collection can include taking your Permanent Fund Dividend.
What gets your license suspended in Alaska?
The DMV must suspend for points accumulation, for operating or owning an uninsured vehicle involved in a crash, and for driving in violation of license restrictions. Revocation is required for convictions including DUI, chemical-test refusal, driving while suspended or revoked, reckless driving, leaving an injury crash, and eluding police. A suspension continues past its end date until the driver reinstates, pays a reinstatement fee, and files proof of future financial responsibility (usually an SR-22).
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Alaska?
0.08% for drivers generally (presumed under the influence); 0.04% for commercial motor vehicle drivers. Drivers under 21 face administrative revocation if a breath test shows any amount of alcohol.
What is the penalty for a first DUI in Alaska?
A first DUI is a class A misdemeanor carrying 10 points. After arrest with a breath result of 0.08% or more, the DMV revokes the license administratively for 90 days, separately from the court case. After a DUI or refusal conviction, an ignition interlock device is required for at least 6 months. The DMV's list of typical first-DUI consequences includes 3 days in jail, $1,500 in court fines, 30-day loss of the vehicle, and SR-22 insurance.
What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in Alaska?
Driving in Alaska means consenting to a breath test after a lawful DUI arrest. Refusal is a separate criminal offense (misdemeanor or felony depending on priors) and leads to DMV administrative revocation: 90 days for a first offense, 1 year with one prior DUI/refusal, 3 years with two, and 5 years with three or more. No limited license is issued after a refusal. A hearing must be requested in writing within 7 days of the notice.
How long does a DUI count as a prior offense in Alaska?
Prior DUI or refusal convictions from Alaska or another state within the last 15 years are used to set the administrative revocation period.
Can you get a hardship license in Alaska?
No limited 'work purpose' license is available for a points suspension or a refusal revocation. After a misdemeanor DUI, a limited license may be available after the first 30 days (first offense) or 90 days (later offenses), with an ignition interlock in every vehicle driven, SR-22 insurance and a $100 application fee. A felony-DUI limited license requires participation in or completion of a Wellness/Therapeutic Court. A limited license for work or medical care may be available after a mandatory-insurance suspension if there was no such suspension in the previous 10 years.
Is it illegal to hold your phone while driving in Alaska?
Alaska prohibits texting while driving and driving with a visual screen device operating; the full list of prohibited uses is in AS 28.35.161.
Is a DUI a felony in Alaska?
DUI is a class C felony if the person has two or more prior DUI-type convictions since January 1, 1996 and within the 10 years before the current offense, or if the person received felony DUI or felony refusal punishment within the last 10 years. A felony DUI carries a fine of at least $10,000, at least 60 months of ignition interlock after the license is restored, and mandatory jail time that rises with the number of prior convictions (for example, at least 120 days with two priors).
How long does a DUI stay on your record in Alaska?
A DUI conviction is entered on the Alaska driving record with 10 points. The DMV pages read do not say how long the DUI stays on the record. For the criminal case, the DUI statute says a court may not suspend imposition of sentence for a DUI conviction, and for later sentencing a prior conviction counts as a 'previous conviction' if it occurred within the 15 years before the new offense.
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