How we check the law

Where the figures come from

Every penalty, limit and waiting period comes from the state legislature's official statute website, such as Texas Constitution and Statutes, Online Sunshine for Florida, or California Legislative Information. We do not use law firm summaries, directories or other calculators as sources.

How quotes are checked

For each figure we store the section number and the exact words of the statute. Before a state page is published, a script compares every stored quote with the saved official text. A page with a single quote that does not match is not published.

What we leave out

When a statute does not set a value, the page says so and leaves the gap open. When the official site lists an amendment without saying what it changed, we show the citation only.

Dates and updates

Each state page shows the date the statute was read. Laws change, often on January 1 or after a legislative session, so we read each state again at least once a year and after sessions that amend these sections.

BAC estimates

The BAC calculator gives an estimate from a published formula. It cannot measure your blood alcohol, and it should never be used to decide whether to drive.