Driving While Intoxicated


Definition of Driving While Intoxicated

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) refers to the crime of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In the United States, driving an automobile with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher is considered a DWI offense in all 50 states.

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is also known as drunk driving, driving while impaired, and driving under the influence (DUI).



Driving While Intoxicated Explained

Fatalities and acts of destruction caused by drunk drivers constitute a major portion of all traffic-related accidents. Most countries around the world have enacted laws and regulations to dissuade drivers from driving while intoxicated. The BAC level of 0.08% is a limit only for non-commercial drivers in the United States; for commercial drivers, the legal limit is 0.04%. Some states also have different BAC level limits for drivers under the age of 21 and put minor charges on drivers whose BAC level is 0.05% or higher.