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New Hampshire DUI Laws

New Hampshire DUI Defense

What you're facing, what the deadlines are, and the questions your attorney needs to answer — specific to New Hampshire (NH) law.

BAC Limit

0.08

Enhanced BAC

0.16

Higher penalties above this

Lookback Period

10 years

Prior offenses count within

30 days-Day DMV Hearing Deadline

In New Hampshire, you have 30 days days from your arrest to request an administrative DMV hearing. Miss this deadline and your license suspension goes into effect automatically — even if the criminal case is later dismissed.

First Offense Penalties in New Hampshire

Jail TimeNo mandatory jail (rarely imposed)
Fines$500 – $1,200
License Suspension9 months – 2 years
Ignition InterlockMay be ordered by the court

Implied Consent & Test Refusal

Like all 50 states, New Hampshire has an implied consent law — by driving on New Hampshire roads, you've already agreed to submit to a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) if an officer has probable cause to believe you're impaired.

Refusal Penalty

180-day license suspension

New Hampshire-Specific Detail

New Hampshire is one of the few states where first-offense DUI rarely results in jail time. However, the license suspension (9 months to 2 years) is among the longest for a first offense.

Is your New Hampshire DUI defense on track?

The Defense Milestone Score checks 10 critical defense behaviors specific to DUI cases. Takes 2 minutes. Instant results.

Take the Free Defense Score

DUI Defense Playbook$97

26 questions your DUI attorney hopes you never ask, a case stage roadmap, red flag checklist, and a case progress scorecard. Instant PDF download — calibrated for New Hampshire DUI defendants.

Important: This page provides general legal information about New Hampshire DUI laws as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. Consult a New Hampshire-licensed attorney for guidance specific to your case.