DUI revocations and ignition interlock

Key points

1. At a breath or blood alcohol level of .08 or more you are presumed to be DUI.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “If you operate a motor vehicle with a breath or blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more, by law you are presumed to be driving under the influence (DUI).”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 16

2. Commercial drivers face revocation at .04 or higher.

   Source: Handbook p. 13

   “Breath test result of .08 or higher (or .04 or higher if operating a commercial motor vehicle) following an arrest for driving under the influence.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 13

3. Administrative revocation: 90 days first, 1 year with one prior, 3 years with two, 5 years with three or more.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “90 days for a first offense; 1 year if you have been previously convicted of DUI or Refusal; 3 years if you have two prior convictions of DUI or Refusal, or 5 years if you have three or more prior convictions”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 16

4. Prior DUI or refusal convictions within the last 15 years count.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “Prior convictions of DWI/DUI or Refusal occurring in Alaska or another state within the last 15 years can be used to determine the revocation period.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 16

5. The DMV revocation happens even if the criminal charge is dismissed.

   Source: Handbook p. 16

   “This revocation will occur even if the criminal charge of DUI or Refusal is dismissed, or you are found not guilty in court.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 16

6. Request an administrative hearing in writing within 7 days.

   Source: Handbook p. 17

   “You must apply within seven (7) days of the "Date Issued" on the front side of this notice”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 17

7. A first DUI or refusal conviction requires an ignition interlock for at least 6 months.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “If you have been convicted of only one DUI or Refusal you will need to have the IID installed for a minimum of six (6) months.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 19

8. A DUI adds 10 points to your driving record, and DUIs stay on your record forever.

   Source: Handbook p. 15

   “10 points on your driving record • DUI’s stay on your record forever”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 15

9. The penalties for driving under the influence of a controlled substance are the same as for alcohol.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “The penalties for driving under the influence of a controlled substance are the same as outlined previously for driving under the influence of alcohol.”
   Alaska Driver Manual, Handbook p. 19

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Alaska practice test

1. 1. What does Alaska law presume when a person operates with a breath or blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more?

   1. The person is presumed to be driving under the influence
   2. The person receives only a warning
   3. The person may drive if no crash occurred
   4. The person is presumed sober until a court hearing
   Show answer

   The person is presumed to be driving under the influence. At .08 or more, Alaska law presumes the operator is driving under the influence. That presumption is not limited to a crash, and a later court process does not turn the reading into a presumption of sobriety. The warning choice understates the consequence because the manual also describes administrative revocation after a qualifying result. Focus on the threshold written as .08, and do not substitute the lower under 21 alcohol rule or a personal feeling of impairment for the statutory standard described here.

2. 2. What administrative revocation period is listed for a new DUI or refusal offense when the driver has two prior convictions?

   1. Six months
   2. Ninety days
   3. Three years
   4. Ten years
   Show answer

   Three years. Alaska's administrative schedule escalates with prior DUI or Refusal convictions. A first offense is listed as 90 days, one prior conviction produces one year, and two prior convictions produce a three-year revocation. The five-year period belongs to a driver with three or more prior convictions. Do not substitute the first-offense period simply because the new event is the one being reviewed. Count the qualifying history, then select the matching duration from the sequence.

3. 3. For a first DUI or refusal conviction, how long must an Alaska ignition interlock device remain installed?

   1. Three months
   2. Twelve months
   3. Nine months
   4. Six months
   Show answer

   Six months. One DUI or refusal conviction requires an ignition interlock device for a minimum of six months on any vehicle the person operates. Three and nine months are shorter periods not stated in the chart, while twelve months applies to the second conviction rather than the first. The device requirement is separate from the court sentence and from the driver's responsibility for installation and maintenance costs. On a test question, count convictions first, then match the count to the installation period instead of assuming every DUI carries a year long device requirement.

Source: the Alaska Driver Manual, Alcohol, Drugs and Driving. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.