North Dakota DUI & Ignition Interlock (2026): What the Law Actually Requires

JDUpdated August 2026 · Verified against NDDOT and NDCC 39-06.1 / 39-08-01
North Dakota’s primary sanction is the 24/7 Sobriety Program — not an ignition interlock. ND has no all-offender IID mandate and no mandatory IID tier. The state’s primary DUI sanction is the 24/7 Sobriety Program (twice-daily breath tests or continuous monitoring). An IID may be required as a condition of a Temporary Restricted License (TRL), but only at the NDDOT driver license director’s discretion — it is not automatic for any offense level. Read your sentencing paperwork and confirm with your attorney what your specific conditions are.

If you found this page searching for “North Dakota ignition interlock requirements,” the honest answer is: an IID may or may not apply to you. Your TRL conditions — set by the NDDOT director — determine whether one is required, for how long, and with which provider. Here’s how the system works.

North Dakota DUI interlock & 24/7 Sobriety Program at a glance
Offense termDUI (Driving Under the Influence) — NDCC 39-08-01
All-offender IID mandate?No — North Dakota has no all-offender IID law and no mandatory IID tier in statute
Primary DUI sanction24/7 Sobriety Program (NDCC ch. 54-12) — twice-daily breath tests or SCRAM monitoring; required for 2nd+ DUI and available for 1st offense
TRL (Temporary Restricted License)Available after 30 days served (or 14 days if enrolled in 24/7). Director MAY require IID as a TRL condition under NDCC 39-06.1-11(4) — at the director’s discretion.
IID term if orderedNo statutory fixed term — runs the TRL period as set by the director. Confirm your specific condition from your TRL paperwork.
1st DUI suspension91 days (BAC 0.08–0.17%); 180 days (BAC 0.18%+)
2nd DUIAt least 360 days 24/7 Sobriety Program required; TRL conditioned on 24/7 participation
3rd+ / 4th+ DUI360+ days 24/7 plus 360+ days supervised probation; 4th+ = 2 years probation with 24/7
24/7 program costs (AG-set fees)Breath test: $1.00/test (~$2.00/day); SCRAM: $6.00/day + $25 activation/$25 deactivation; UA: $5.00 + $25 lab; drug patch: $60.00
No indigent IID programNo state IID fee-assistance program identified; 24/7 testing costs are also offender-paid
TRL non-complianceNon-compliance with 24/7 cancels the TRL (NDCC 39-06.1-11); 3 moving violations during TRL = 30-day revocation + $100 surcharge each
SR-22 required?Yes — 1 year from conviction for DUI, refusal, or driving under suspension (NDCC 39-16.1-19). Shorter than most states.
Who administers IID conditionsNDDOT Driver License Division director (discretionary TRL condition)
Governing lawNDCC 39-06.1-11; 39-08-01; ch. 54-12; 39-16.1-19

The 24/7 Sobriety Program — North Dakota’s primary sanction

Instead of building around ignition interlocks, North Dakota built its DUI compliance system around the 24/7 Sobriety Program. Rather than a car-mounted device, participants report to a testing site twice daily for breath tests (morning and evening), or wear a SCRAM bracelet for continuous alcohol monitoring, or submit to urinalysis or drug patches.

The 24/7 program is required for second-offense DUI. For a first offense, enrollment can also shorten the hard suspension period — the TRL becomes available after 14 days instead of 30 if you’re enrolled. Costs are set by the Attorney General’s office: approximately $2/day for breath testing, or $6/day for SCRAM monitoring.

If the director also conditions your TRL on an IID, you may be paying both 24/7 testing costs and IID device costs simultaneously. Confirm what your specific TRL conditions include before contacting providers.

Providers serving North Dakota — authorization status unverified

No official ND approved-vendor list was found. We searched dot.nd.gov, the Attorney General’s website, and the North Dakota Administrative Code. No official state-approved IID vendor list was found. The providers below self-report serving North Dakota, but their authorization has not been verified against any official state document. Before signing with any provider, call NDDOT Driver License Division directly to ask which vendors are currently authorized for use with ND TRLs. Do not rely solely on provider marketing.
Provider (ND authorization unverified — confirm with NDDOT)Monthly est.
Intoxalock $60–100 888-283-5899
Smart Start $70–100 800-831-3299
LifeSafer $65–95 800-634-3077

Verify ND authorization with NDDOT before signing. No official approved-vendor list was found during our research. Call NDDOT Driver License Division to confirm which vendors are currently accepted for ND TRL conditions. Monthly estimates are market ranges; no state cost assistance is available.

What a North Dakota DUI sanction costs

IID installation (one time, if ordered)$70–150
IID monthly lease + monitoring (if ordered)$60–100
24/7 breath testing~$2.00/day (~$60/month)
24/7 SCRAM monitoring$6.00/day + $25 activation (~$205/month)
24/7 urinalysis$5.00/test + $25 lab fee
SR-22 filing fee$15–25 (from insurer)

If your TRL conditions include both IID and 24/7 participation, total monthly compliance costs can reach $150–300 depending on monitoring type. No state cost assistance is available for either program.

North Dakota SR-22 is only 1 year — shorter than almost every other state. The clock starts at conviction for DUI, refusal, or driving under suspension. See North Dakota SR-22 costs and cheapest carriers →

North Dakota DUI interlock FAQ

Is an ignition interlock mandatory after a DUI in North Dakota?
No — North Dakota has no all-offender IID mandate and no mandatory IID tier in statute. The state’s primary DUI sanction is the 24/7 Sobriety Program. An IID may be required as a discretionary condition of a Temporary Restricted License (TRL) by the NDDOT driver license director under NDCC 39-06.1-11(4) — but it is not automatic. Read your TRL paperwork and confirm with your attorney what conditions apply to you.
What is the 24/7 Sobriety Program in North Dakota?
North Dakota’s 24/7 Sobriety Program (NDCC ch. 54-12) requires twice-daily breath testing (morning and evening at a testing site), SCRAM continuous alcohol monitoring, or urinalysis/drug patch testing. It is required for second-offense DUI and available for first offenses. Enrolling in 24/7 for a first offense shortens the hard suspension period before TRL eligibility from 30 days to 14 days. Costs are set by the AG: approximately $2/day for breath testing, $6/day for SCRAM.
How long would my IID term be if ordered?
There is no statutory fixed IID term in North Dakota. If the NDDOT director conditions your TRL on an IID, the term runs for the duration of the TRL period — which is set at the director’s discretion. Confirm the exact term from your TRL paperwork or by contacting NDDOT Driver License Division.
Which providers are approved for use in North Dakota?
We were unable to locate an official NDDOT-approved IID vendor list on dot.nd.gov, the Attorney General’s website, or the North Dakota Administrative Code. The providers listed on this page self-report serving North Dakota — their official authorization has not been verified. Call NDDOT Driver License Division directly to confirm which vendors are currently accepted for ND TRL conditions before signing with anyone.
What happens if I don’t comply with my TRL conditions?
Non-compliance with the 24/7 Sobriety Program cancels the TRL under NDCC 39-06.1-11 — you lose your restricted driving privilege. Three moving violations during a TRL trigger a 30-day revocation and a $100 surcharge for each violation. If an IID condition was included, non-compliance with that condition would similarly affect your TRL.
Sources: NDDOT — Driver Record Services & Suspensions; NDCC 39-06.1-11; 39-08-01; ch. 54-12; 39-16.1-19. Last verified August 2026.
Advertising disclosure: We may be compensated when you contact a provider through our numbers or links. Provider ND authorization is unverified — confirm with NDDOT before signing. Content is informational only — not legal advice.
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