Idaho Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI
Idaho driving rules: point system, speeding points, traffic school, how to pay or fight a ticket, license suspension, DUI limits and penalties.
Quick answers for Idaho
- Point system
- Yes. Moving-violation convictions from Idaho, other states and Canada are assigned 1 to 4 points. Suspensions: 12 or more points in any 12 months, 30 days; 18 or more in any 24 months, 90 days; IDAPA 39.02.71; Idaho Code § 49-326; ITD Guide to Understanding Driver Records (April 2024)
- Points for speeding
- Speeding 16 mph or more over the posted limit, or speeding in a work zone: 4 points. Other speeding convictions: 3 points. IDAPA 39.02.71
- Legal BAC limit
- 0.08 for drivers generally; 0.04 for commercial motor vehicle drivers; 0.02 for drivers under 21. Idaho Code § 18-8004(1)(a), (b), (d)
- First-offense DUI penalties
- A first DUI is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000. The court suspends driving privileges for 30 days with no driving at all, then for an additional 60 to 150 days during which restricted driving for employment or family health needs may be allowed. Idaho Code §§ 18-8005(1), 18-8002A
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Tickets and points
| Point system | Yes. Moving-violation convictions from Idaho, other states and Canada are assigned 1 to 4 points. Suspensions: 12 or more points in any 12 months, 30 days; 18 or more in any 24 months, 90 days; 24 or more in any 36 months, 6 months (180 days). When several violations come from one stop, only the conviction with the most points counts. |
|---|---|
| Points for speeding | Speeding 16 mph or more over the posted limit, or speeding in a work zone: 4 points. Other speeding convictions: 3 points. Source: IDAPA 39.02.71 |
| How long points last | Points count toward suspension within rolling 12-, 24- and 36-month periods. Completing a defensive driving or traffic safety course reduces points but does not remove the conviction from the record. How long convictions remain on an Idaho driving record was not confirmed from an official page read for this record. |
| Traffic school | Once every three years, a driver can remove 3 points by completing an approved defensive driving course, or remove the points for a specific citation by completing a city-sponsored Traffic Safety Education Course offered by the officer at the roadside (where available). Only one reduction is allowed in any 3-year period from either course. The course does not remove the conviction, cannot undo a points suspension already imposed, cannot be 'saved' for future points, and has no effect on CDL disqualifications. |
| Paying or fighting a ticket | An infraction citation sets a court appearance date 5 to 21 days after the citation. The driver can pay the fine and court costs (which counts as admitting the charge), contest the citation by pleading not guilty and going to trial, or ask about a payment plan. If the driver neither pleads not guilty nor pays, the court enters a default judgment of guilt; unpaid amounts can be collected like other court debt (including state tax refund intercept), and the court may order a show-cause hearing, with possible contempt and an arrest warrant for missing it. |
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | An infraction citation can be paid online, by mail or in person at the courthouse; the fine for each infraction is set by the Idaho Legislature in statute (for example, speeding 9 mph over the limit means a $90 debt to the court if found guilty). |
License suspension
| License suspension | Suspensions include point suspensions (30 days, 90 days or 6 months), failure to provide insurance (a first offense is an infraction with a one-year suspension; a second within 5 years is a misdemeanor with a three-year suspension, and an SR-22 is required for the suspension period), DUI and test refusal or failure, and three or more distracted-driving convictions in 3 years (court may suspend up to 90 days). |
|---|---|
| Hardship or restricted license | Courts may grant restricted driving privileges for employment or family health needs after the first 30 days of a first DUI suspension, and the ITD may grant restricted noncommercial driving after 30 days of a first administrative test-failure suspension (with an interlock). No temporary restricted license is available for a second test failure within 5 years. Problem-solving court participants may qualify for a restricted permit after 45 days of an absolute suspension. |
| Checking and reinstating a license | Check your status online with ITD's Check Driver Status tool or order a driving record. Your license stays suspended until reinstatement fees are paid, even after the suspension period ends. Reinstatement fees: $245 for an administrative license suspension (ALS), $285 for a DUI, $245 for a test refusal; a Restricted Driving Permit application (ALS) is $60. A DUI conviction also requires SR-22 insurance for three years from the end of the suspension. Pay through the DMV online portal (log-in required), by check mailed to PO Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707-1129, or by phone at (208) 584-4343 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. MT); a paper reinstatement application is available. Status check: https://dmvonline.itd.idaho.gov/OpenServices/OpenVehicleServices/CheckDriverStatus |
DUI / DWI
| Legal BAC limit | 0.08 for drivers generally; 0.04 for commercial motor vehicle drivers; 0.02 for drivers under 21. |
|---|---|
| First-offense DUI penalties | A first DUI is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000. The court suspends driving privileges for 30 days with no driving at all, then for an additional 60 to 150 days during which restricted driving for employment or family health needs may be allowed. An ignition interlock must be installed within 10 days after the absolute suspension ends and kept until one year after the suspension period ends. Administratively, failing an evidentiary test for the first time brings a 90-day suspension, with restricted noncommercial driving possible after the first 30 days. |
| When a DUI is a felony | A DUI is a felony (up to 10 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine) when the person has two or more prior DUI violations within 10 years, counting withheld judgments and completed DUI diversion programs. Once a person has a felony DUI or aggravated DUI (or certain related vehicular offenses), any further DUI within 15 years is also a felony. Separately, 'aggravated DUI' — causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement to another person while driving under the influence — is a felony. |
| Refusing a breath test | A driver who refuses or fails to complete evidentiary testing faces a $250 civil penalty, a required ignition interlock for one year after the suspension ends, and an absolute license suspension of 1 year for a first refusal or 2 years for a second refusal within 10 years. A hearing can be requested within 7 days. Drivers admitted to a problem-solving court who have served at least 45 days may be eligible for a restricted permit with an interlock. Source: Idaho Code § 18-8002(3)–(4) |
| DUI lookback period | 10 years for criminal penalties (a prior DUI conviction or withheld judgment within ten years makes the new offense a repeat offense); for administrative test-failure suspensions, a second failure within 5 years brings a 1-year suspension. Source: Idaho Code §§ 18-8005, 18-8002A |
| How long a DUI stays on your record | The Idaho Transportation Department says a standard Idaho driving record covers the most recent three years, but an all-years record is available on request, so older convictions are kept. The ITD guide does not give a removal date for DUI convictions. Whether a DUI conviction can be removed from the criminal record was not confirmed from an official page. |
Phones and distracted driving
| Phone and texting laws | Drivers may not operate a vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, including while stopped temporarily in traffic, or watch video on a device (other than navigation). Exceptions include emergency calls and texts to 911, and hands-free use of navigation. Fines: $75 for a first offense, $150 for a second within 3 years, $300 for later offenses within 3 years; a court may suspend the license up to 90 days after three or more convictions in 3 years. A first offense carries no points. |
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Where to get help in Idaho
Traffic Tickets & DUI FAQ
How does the driver point system work in Idaho?
Yes. Moving-violation convictions from Idaho, other states and Canada are assigned 1 to 4 points. Suspensions: 12 or more points in any 12 months, 30 days; 18 or more in any 24 months, 90 days; 24 or more in any 36 months, 6 months (180 days). When several violations come from one stop, only the conviction with the most points counts.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Idaho?
Speeding 16 mph or more over the posted limit, or speeding in a work zone: 4 points. Other speeding convictions: 3 points.
How long do points stay on your license in Idaho?
Points count toward suspension within rolling 12-, 24- and 36-month periods. Completing a defensive driving or traffic safety course reduces points but does not remove the conviction from the record.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Idaho?
Once every three years, a driver can remove 3 points by completing an approved defensive driving course, or remove the points for a specific citation by completing a city-sponsored Traffic Safety Education Course offered by the officer at the roadside (where available). Only one reduction is allowed in any 3-year period from either course. The course does not remove the conviction, cannot undo a points suspension already imposed, cannot be 'saved' for future points, and has no effect on CDL disqualifications.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Idaho?
An infraction citation can be paid online, by mail or in person at the courthouse; the fine for each infraction is set by the Idaho Legislature in statute (for example, speeding 9 mph over the limit means a $90 debt to the court if found guilty).
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in Idaho?
Check your status online with ITD's Check Driver Status tool or order a driving record. Your license stays suspended until reinstatement fees are paid, even after the suspension period ends. Reinstatement fees: $245 for an administrative license suspension (ALS), $285 for a DUI, $245 for a test refusal; a Restricted Driving Permit application (ALS) is $60. A DUI conviction also requires SR-22 insurance for three years from the end of the suspension. Pay through the DMV online portal (log-in required), by check mailed to PO Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707-1129, or by phone at (208) 584-4343 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. MT); a paper reinstatement application is available.
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Idaho?
An infraction citation sets a court appearance date 5 to 21 days after the citation. The driver can pay the fine and court costs (which counts as admitting the charge), contest the citation by pleading not guilty and going to trial, or ask about a payment plan. If the driver neither pleads not guilty nor pays, the court enters a default judgment of guilt; unpaid amounts can be collected like other court debt (including state tax refund intercept), and the court may order a show-cause hearing, with possible contempt and an arrest warrant for missing it.
What gets your license suspended in Idaho?
Suspensions include point suspensions (30 days, 90 days or 6 months), failure to provide insurance (a first offense is an infraction with a one-year suspension; a second within 5 years is a misdemeanor with a three-year suspension, and an SR-22 is required for the suspension period), DUI and test refusal or failure, and three or more distracted-driving convictions in 3 years (court may suspend up to 90 days).
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Idaho?
0.08 for drivers generally; 0.04 for commercial motor vehicle drivers; 0.02 for drivers under 21.
What is the penalty for a first DUI in Idaho?
A first DUI is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000. The court suspends driving privileges for 30 days with no driving at all, then for an additional 60 to 150 days during which restricted driving for employment or family health needs may be allowed. An ignition interlock must be installed within 10 days after the absolute suspension ends and kept until one year after the suspension period ends. Administratively, failing an evidentiary test for the first time brings a 90-day suspension, with restricted noncommercial driving possible after the first 30 days.
What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in Idaho?
A driver who refuses or fails to complete evidentiary testing faces a $250 civil penalty, a required ignition interlock for one year after the suspension ends, and an absolute license suspension of 1 year for a first refusal or 2 years for a second refusal within 10 years. A hearing can be requested within 7 days. Drivers admitted to a problem-solving court who have served at least 45 days may be eligible for a restricted permit with an interlock.
How long does a DUI count as a prior offense in Idaho?
10 years for criminal penalties (a prior DUI conviction or withheld judgment within ten years makes the new offense a repeat offense); for administrative test-failure suspensions, a second failure within 5 years brings a 1-year suspension.
Can you get a hardship license in Idaho?
Courts may grant restricted driving privileges for employment or family health needs after the first 30 days of a first DUI suspension, and the ITD may grant restricted noncommercial driving after 30 days of a first administrative test-failure suspension (with an interlock). No temporary restricted license is available for a second test failure within 5 years. Problem-solving court participants may qualify for a restricted permit after 45 days of an absolute suspension.
Is it illegal to hold your phone while driving in Idaho?
Drivers may not operate a vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, including while stopped temporarily in traffic, or watch video on a device (other than navigation). Exceptions include emergency calls and texts to 911, and hands-free use of navigation. Fines: $75 for a first offense, $150 for a second within 3 years, $300 for later offenses within 3 years; a court may suspend the license up to 90 days after three or more convictions in 3 years. A first offense carries no points.
Is a DUI a felony in Idaho?
A DUI is a felony (up to 10 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine) when the person has two or more prior DUI violations within 10 years, counting withheld judgments and completed DUI diversion programs. Once a person has a felony DUI or aggravated DUI (or certain related vehicular offenses), any further DUI within 15 years is also a felony. Separately, 'aggravated DUI' — causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement to another person while driving under the influence — is a felony.
How long does a DUI stay on your record in Idaho?
The Idaho Transportation Department says a standard Idaho driving record covers the most recent three years, but an all-years record is available on request, so older convictions are kept. The ITD guide does not give a removal date for DUI convictions. Whether a DUI conviction can be removed from the criminal record was not confirmed from an official page.
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