DUI/DWI Definitions
Understanding legal terminology is important when you have been charged with a criminal offense
- DUI/DWI is defined as driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drunk driving is the act of operating or driving a while under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired. It is illegal in all jurisdictions within the United States
- The specific criminal offense is usually called driving under the influence (DUI), and in some states’ driving while intoxicated’ (DWI), or ‘operating while impaired’ (OWI)
- All states have similar verbiage of their vehicle and traffic laws of the prohibition against driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- There are many sub-categories for this offense ranging from traffic infractions, to misdemeanors and felonies
