Law enforcement officers make about 1 million arrests each year for people who drink and drive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s a small percentage of the 18.5 million people who actually admit to driving when they’ve had too much alcohol.
The people who are caught are often charged with something like a DUI or DWI.
What the charge is named usually depends on where the crime happened since the acronyms have very similar meanings and are sometimes even interchangeable.
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DUI and DWI are two of the most common acronyms for driving with something like alcohol or drugs in your system.
Here is a list of some of the more common acronyms and what they stand for:
DUI: Driving under the influence
DWI: Driving while intoxicated or driving while impaired
OVI: Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs
OWI: Operating while intoxicated
OUI: Operating under the influence
DWAI: Driving while ability impaired)
Interesting fact: In England, they call it “drink-driving.”
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So what’s the difference in the meaning behind all of the different acronyms? Each state uses specific terminology, so it’s important to know what your state uses and what it stands for.
The National College for DUI Defense has a handy website that spells out all of the DUI/DWI laws by state.
Here’s a look at some specific states and the terminology they use:
Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania are among the states that use the term DUI.
New Jersey and North Carolina are some states where DWI is the acronym of choice.
Alaska uses OUI.
Indiana uses OWI.
Ohio officially uses the term OVI.
Sometimes, a state uses several terms to differentiate between the level of impairment or even the substance involved.
For example, Rhode Island officially uses both DWI and DUI. Both are considered traffic violations, but they differ in how people can be convicted and the possible penalties.
In Rhode Island, a DUI is a criminal offense, and a DWI is not. For a DUI, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) must be above 0.08%. It’s a DWI if your BAC is between 0.02% and 0.07% and the driver is between the ages of 18 and 21.
A first-time DUI offender in Rhode Island could face jail time, fines, and a restricted or revoked driver’s license. A DWI carries lesser penalties, and the offense does not mean jail time.
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Arkansas uses several different terms, including the term “BWI,” which means boating while intoxicated or using drugs.
Colorado uses both DUI and DWAI. DUI is mostly for alcohol offenses, while DWAI is for drugs, alcohol, or a combination.
New York uses the terms DWI and DWAI.
You get the point; it’s complicated and depends on the state.
There is also a Federal DUI, but the offense has to happen on federal property, like a national park, military base, or post office.
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Just like the terms for the crime, the penalties and circumstances differ by state.
In some places, your car doesn’t even need to be moving for you to be charged with DUI or a similar offense. Simply being in the driver’s seat or having keys nearby can be enough for an arrest.
The level of alcohol or substance in the person’s system often makes a difference in the severity of the penalty, including if it is not a first offense, if the BAC is higher than 0.15%, or if a child is in the car.
For example, first-time offenders in Arizona can lose their license, go to jail, pay a fine, attend alcohol education, perform community service, and be required to equip any vehicle with an ignition interlock device.
Getting a DUI will definitely impact your car insurance in at least a few ways. First, the rates for insurance will definitely go up.
“Insurers consider drivers with DUI convictions to be very high risk. It is common to see average premiums double after a DUI conviction,” said Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute.
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Also, you might need to carry more insurance to better cover any potential damages you might cause and file specific forms.
“DUI drivers in most states are also required to file either an SR-22 or FR-44 (Florida and Virginia only) certificate of financial responsibility with their state’s department of motor vehicles to prove they have adequate auto insurance coverage,” Friedlander said. “Some states require DUI drivers to carry higher liability limits than state minimums.”
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You might even be dropped by your insurance carrier, which might make it difficult for you to find new coverage.
“Having a DUI on your motor vehicle record could limit your options of purchasing auto insurance from a standard auto insurer,” Friedlander said. “In some situations, your only option may be to purchase coverage from a nonstandard insurer that specializes in high-risk drivers or a state-backed risk pool for drivers who can’t get coverage through the private market.”
Friedlander also says a DUI or similar conviction might also raise the rates of other insurance you have, including home or renters insurance, life insurance, or health insurance.
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The higher rates could stick with you for three to 10 years, depending on the state where you live.
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Drunk driving is the No. 1 cause of death on roads in the United States, and two out of every three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in some way, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
The best way to avoid a DUI, DWI, DWAI, OVI, or anything similar is not to drive while impaired. Use public transportation, rideshare apps, or have someone drive who has not been drinking or using any other substances.
