Driving under the influence

Driving under the influence, also known as DUI, is an offence that refers to driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or other drugs (including recreational drugs and those prescribed by physicians), to a level that renders the driver incapable of operating a motor vehicle in a safe manner.

Also known as driving while impaired or driving while intoxicated (DWI), drunk driving, operating while intoxicated (OWI), operating [a] vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI) in Ohio, drink-driving (UK/Ireland), or impaired driving. In Ohio, this offence is referred to as operating [a] vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI) (Canada).

The name given to the crime differs from one jurisdiction to another, as does the legal vocabulary and the terminology used in everyday speech. In the United States, the specific criminal offence is typically referred to as driving under the influence; however, in some states, it is also referred to as "driving while intoxicated" (DWI), "operating while impaired" (OWI), or "operating while ability impaired", "operating a vehicle under the influence" (OVI), etc. It's possible that these restrictions also apply to flying a plane or captaining a boat. The term "vehicles" may refer to anything from agricultural equipment to horse-drawn carriages and even bicycles. Drinking and driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, driving while under the influence of drugs, and driving while "over the prescribed limit" are all common synonyms for these types of traffic violations.

There are two distinct offences that may be committed in relation to drinking and driving in the United Kingdom. The first offence is known as "Driving or attempting to drive while under the influence of excess alcohol" (legal code DR10), and the second offence is known as "In charge of a vehicle while under the influence of excess alcohol" (legal code DR40) or "drunk in charge" due to the wording of the Licensing Act 1872. Both of these offences carry the same penalty. When it comes to motor vehicles, the Road Safety Act of 1967 established two distinct types of driving offences: one for "driving while unfit through drink or drugs" (DR20 and DR80 respectively), which can apply even with levels of alcohol, blood, or urine that are below the prescribed limits; and the other for "being over the limit," which refers to the more specific offence of operating a vehicle while having breath, blood, or urine alcohol levels that are above the prescribed limits. The former offence is more commonly known as The Road Traffic Act of 1988 included the clauses that were later re-enacted. Bicycles are subject to their own distinct crime under the Act of 1988. Even though the 1872 Act has been largely rendered obsolete, it is still a crime to be "drunk while in control of any carriage, horse, cattle, or steam engine." The term "carriage" may also refer to mobility scooters in particular contexts.