DUI, DWI, BUI

DUI (driving under the influence>, DWI (driving while impaired or intoxicated) and BUI (boating under the influence all involve operating a motor vehicle while impaired due to the use of alcohol, drugs or other cause. Drunk driving is against the law in every state in two forms of criminal offenses: DUI and DWI. If the police suspect a person of operating a motor vehicle (car, motorcycle, truck or boat) while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they may stop the vehicle and request the driver submit to a “field sobriety test.” This tests the level of driver impairment and reaction time. They may also ask the driver to submit to a breathalyzer test or for a blood or urine sample in order to determine the driver’s blood alcohol level (“BAC”) with a greater degree of accuracy. The punishment for a DUI or DWI varies between states, including the BAC levels which trigger harsher penalties.