KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- California recorded the fourth-largest DUI arrest increase of any U.S. state in 2025, rising 1.77% from 93,825 to 95,483 arrests, an addition of 1,658 arrests year over year, the largest raw increase of any state in the nation.
- California’s increase stands in stark contrast to the national trend: DUI arrests fell 7.64% nationwide, declining from 666,086 to 615,225 across all 50 states.
- Every bordering state saw DUI arrests decline sharply: Oregon dropped 9.76%, Nevada fell 14.71%, and Arizona declined 14.16%. California is the only West Coast and western border state to post an increase.
While DUI arrests plummeted across the United States in 2025, California moved in the opposite direction. The Golden State posted the fourth-largest percentage increase of any state in the country, with DUI arrests climbing 1.77% year over year, from 93,825 in 2024 to 95,483 in 2025. That increase of 1,658 additional arrests places California at #4 in the national rankings by percentage change, but #1 in absolute volume, adding more raw DUI arrests than any other state in the nation.
According to an analysis by Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, using DUI arrest data from all 50 U.S. states reported through the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), California’s increase is a significant outlier. Nationally, DUI arrests declined 7.64%, falling from 666,086 to 615,225 across all 50 states, a net reduction of 50,861 arrests.
California DUI Arrests at a Glance
| Metric | California | National (All 50 States) |
| 2024 DUI Arrests | 93,825 | 666,086 |
| 2025 DUI Arrests | 95,483 | 615,225 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +1.77% | -7.64% |
| Net Change in Arrests | +1,658 | -50,861 |
| National Rank (by % Change) | #4 (Fourth-Highest Increase) | — |
California’s 1.77% increase trails Vermont (+8.86%), Oklahoma (+3.71%), and Iowa (+3.08%) by percentage, but in raw numbers, California’s 1,658 additional arrests far exceeds every other state. Vermont added 179, Oklahoma added 428, and Iowa added 284. California alone accounts for more than half of all net new DUI arrests among the five states that posted increases. With a population of roughly 39 million, California’s increase represents a significant volume of additional impaired driving enforcement activity.
California DUI Arrests: By the Numbers
| CALIFORNIA DUI ARRESTS: BY THE NUMBERS | |
| 2024 DUI Arrests | 93,825 |
| 2025 DUI Arrests | 95,483 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +1.77% |
| Net Additional Arrests | +1,658 |
| National Ranking | #4 (Fourth-Highest Increase) |
| West Region Ranking | #1 of 13 (Only Western State with Increase) |
| National Trend | -7.64% (45 of 50 States Declining) |
Only 5 States Bucked the National Trend with DUI Arrest Increases
| Rank | State | 2024 DUI Arrests | 2025 DUI Arrests | Year-over-Year Change |
| 1 | Vermont | 2,020 | 2,199 | +8.86% |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 11,523 | 11,951 | +3.71% |
| 3 | Iowa | 9,213 | 9,497 | +3.08% |
| 4 | California | 93,825 | 95,483 | +1.77% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 6,608 | 6,614 | +0.09% |
| 6 | Alabama | 9,566 | 9,561 | -0.05% |
| 7 | Texas | 60,735 | 60,573 | -0.27% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 12,828 | 12,671 | -1.22% |
| 9 | Colorado | 16,308 | 15,880 | -2.62% |
| 10 | Michigan | 20,352 | 19,483 | -4.27% |
California emerged as the fourth-ranked state with a 1.77% increase in DUI arrests, adding 1,658 arrests compared to 2024. Only four other states recorded any increase at all: Vermont (+8.86%), Oklahoma (+3.71%), Iowa (+3.08%), and Nebraska (+0.09%). The remaining 45 states all posted declines, with even the smallest decreases, like Alabama’s -0.05%, still representing a downward trajectory.
California Stands Alone Among Bordering States
| Rank | State | 2024 DUI Arrests | 2025 DUI Arrests | Year-over-Year Change |
| 4 | California | 93,825 | 95,483 | +1.77% |
| 21 | Oregon | 13,906 | 12,549 | -9.76% |
| 32 | Arizona | 22,158 | 19,020 | -14.16% |
| 34 | Nevada | 11,912 | 10,160 | -14.71% |
California is the only bordering state to record an increase in DUI arrests in 2025. Oregon, to the north, saw DUI arrests fall 9.76%. Nevada, to the east, posted a 14.71% decline. Arizona, to the southeast, dropped 14.16%. The contrast is stark: while California added 1,658 arrests, its three bordering states collectively shed thousands.
How California Compares to Western Region Peers
| Rank | State | 2024 DUI Arrests | 2025 DUI Arrests | Year-over-Year Change |
| 4 | California | 93,825 | 95,483 | +1.77% |
| 9 | Colorado | 16,308 | 15,880 | -2.62% |
| 17 | Montana | 4,303 | 4,001 | -7.02% |
| 21 | Oregon | 13,906 | 12,549 | -9.76% |
| 26 | Wyoming | 2,999 | 2,642 | -11.90% |
| 29 | Idaho | 7,335 | 6,393 | -12.84% |
| 31 | New Mexico | 6,026 | 5,210 | -13.54% |
| 32 | Arizona | 22,158 | 19,020 | -14.16% |
| 34 | Nevada | 11,912 | 10,160 | -14.71% |
| 36 | Alaska | 2,999 | 2,495 | -16.81% |
| 43 | Washington | 25,070 | 19,238 | -23.26% |
| 45 | Utah | 9,083 | 6,676 | -26.50% |
| 50 | Hawaii | 3,289 | 1,833 | -44.27% |
California is the only Western state to record an increase in DUI arrests in 2025. Across the 13-state West region, every other state posted a decline. Colorado fell 2.62%, Oregon dropped 9.76%, Idaho declined 12.84%, New Mexico fell 13.54%, Arizona dropped 14.16%, Nevada declined 14.71%, Alaska fell 16.81%, Montana dropped 7.02%, Wyoming declined 11.90%, Washington plummeted 23.26%, Utah dropped 26.50%, and Hawaii posted the steepest decline in the nation at 44.27%. California’s 1.77% increase is a clear divergence from this regional pattern.
Expert Commentary
Looking at the study, Chrissy Grigoropoulos, Founding Partner of Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, commented:
“California’s position as the state with the largest raw increase in DUI arrests is notable precisely because it runs counter to such a strong national trend. Whether this reflects intensified enforcement, changes in reporting practices, or underlying shifts in driver behavior, it warrants closer examination. With 1,658 additional arrests in a single year, more than any other state in the country, the increase represents both a meaningful statistical shift and a significant impact on California communities and roadways.”
National Context: States with the Steepest DUI Arrest Declines
| Rank | State | 2024 DUI Arrests | 2025 DUI Arrests | Year-over-Year Change |
| 50 | Hawaii | 3,289 | 1,833 | -44.27% |
| 49 | New Jersey | 18,988 | 11,851 | -37.59% |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 7,988 | 5,055 | -36.72% |
| 47 | Delaware | 314 | 205 | -34.71% |
| 46 | New York | 15,262 | 10,269 | -32.72% |
| 45 | Utah | 9,083 | 6,676 | -26.50% |
| 44 | Indiana | 16,175 | 12,045 | -25.53% |
| 43 | Washington | 25,070 | 19,238 | -23.26% |
| 42 | Arkansas | 6,948 | 5,347 | -23.04% |
| 41 | Missouri | 17,926 | 14,080 | -21.45% |
For perspective, the states with the steepest declines recorded reductions far exceeding California’s increase. Hawaii led the nation with a 44.27% drop, cutting arrests nearly in half, from 3,289 to 1,833. New Jersey (-37.59%), Massachusetts (-36.72%), and Delaware (-34.71%) also posted dramatic reductions. The magnitude of declines nationally underscores how unusual California’s upward trend is in the current landscape.
West Region Posts 15.0% Average Decline as California Bucks the Trend
| Region | 2024 Total Arrests | 2025 Total Arrests | Average State Change |
| West | 219,213 | 201,580 | -15.0% |
| South | 226,596 | 209,779 | -11.1% |
| Midwest | 185,826 | 169,994 | -8.5% |
| Northeast | 97,449 | 73,355 | -19.5% |
The West region, which includes California, recorded an average decline of 15.0%, making California’s increase even more conspicuous as it stands as the only western state moving against a powerful downward current. The Northeast recorded the steepest average decline at 19.5%, while the South posted an 11.1% drop and the Midwest declined 8.5%.
Complete 50-State DUI Arrest Rankings (2024 vs. 2025)
| Rank | State | 2024 DUI Arrests | 2025 DUI Arrests | Year-over-Year Change |
| 1 | Vermont | 2,020 | 2,199 | +8.86% |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 11,523 | 11,951 | +3.71% |
| 3 | Iowa | 9,213 | 9,497 | +3.08% |
| 4 | California | 93,825 | 95,483 | +1.77% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 6,608 | 6,614 | +0.09% |
| 6 | Alabama | 9,566 | 9,561 | -0.05% |
| 7 | Texas | 60,735 | 60,573 | -0.27% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 12,828 | 12,671 | -1.22% |
| 9 | Colorado | 16,308 | 15,880 | -2.62% |
| 10 | Michigan | 20,352 | 19,483 | -4.27% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 22,194 | 21,134 | -4.78% |
| 12 | Ohio | 25,490 | 24,050 | -5.65% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 6,453 | 6,086 | -5.69% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 18,546 | 17,482 | -5.74% |
| 15 | Kentucky | 13,205 | 12,308 | -6.79% |
| 16 | Illinois | 18,927 | 17,622 | -6.89% |
| 17 | Montana | 4,303 | 4,001 | -7.02% |
| 18 | West Virginia | 2,941 | 2,724 | -7.38% |
| 19 | Florida | 14,770 | 13,641 | -7.64% |
| 20 | North Carolina | 14,934 | 13,696 | -8.29% |
| 21 | Oregon | 13,906 | 12,549 | -9.76% |
| 22 | South Dakota | 6,010 | 5,402 | -10.12% |
| 23 | Tennessee | 20,932 | 18,744 | -10.45% |
| 24 | North Dakota | 4,996 | 4,452 | -10.89% |
| 25 | Maryland | 12,438 | 11,046 | -11.19% |
| 26 | Wyoming | 2,999 | 2,642 | -11.90% |
| 27 | Virginia | 17,582 | 15,474 | -11.99% |
| 28 | New Hampshire | 4,497 | 3,924 | -12.74% |
| 29 | Idaho | 7,335 | 6,393 | -12.84% |
| 30 | South Carolina | 14,711 | 12,730 | -13.47% |
| 31 | New Mexico | 6,026 | 5,210 | -13.54% |
| 32 | Arizona | 22,158 | 19,020 | -14.16% |
| 33 | Georgia | 20,804 | 17,750 | -14.68% |
| 34 | Nevada | 11,912 | 10,160 | -14.71% |
| 35 | Louisiana | 3,888 | 3,309 | -14.89% |
| 36 | Alaska | 2,999 | 2,495 | -16.81% |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | 35,083 | 28,239 | -19.51% |
| 38 | Rhode Island | 2,889 | 2,316 | -19.83% |
| 39 | Maine | 4,269 | 3,416 | -19.98% |
| 40 | Kansas | 7,866 | 6,182 | -21.41% |
| 41 | Missouri | 17,926 | 14,080 | -21.45% |
| 42 | Arkansas | 6,948 | 5,347 | -23.04% |
| 43 | Washington | 25,070 | 19,238 | -23.26% |
| 44 | Indiana | 16,175 | 12,045 | -25.53% |
| 45 | Utah | 9,083 | 6,676 | -26.50% |
| 46 | New York | 15,262 | 10,269 | -32.72% |
| 47 | Delaware | 314 | 205 | -34.71% |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 7,988 | 5,055 | -36.72% |
| 49 | New Jersey | 18,988 | 11,851 | -37.59% |
| 50 | Hawaii | 3,289 | 1,833 | -44.27% |
The complete rankings show the full spectrum of DUI arrest trends across all 50 states, from Vermont’s 8.86% increase at the top to Hawaii’s 44.27% decline at the bottom. California is highlighted as the #4 ranked state for DUI arrest increases in 2025.
Methodology
This study examines DUI arrest data from all 50 U.S. states using the FBI Crime Data Explorer’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Arrest totals for 2024 and 2025 were compared to calculate the year-over-year percentage change for each state using a standard percentage change formula: ((2025 Arrests - 2024 Arrests) / 2024 Arrests) × 100. States were ranked from the highest increase to the largest decrease, allowing comparisons regardless of population size.
Data Sources
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/arrest
- Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13ZgFDFROERhnvOWZ6wUbO49T_Z4gRXK-Kvi2ElqqsvE/edit?gid=0#gid=0
- Research by: https://grigorlaw.com/
About Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers
The study was conducted by Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, a premier New York “all injury” law firm representing clients in personal injury, car accidents, workers’ compensation, and no-fault claims.
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