Any policeman that can help?

Question

What is the difference between driving under the influence and operating while intoxicated? How is it determined which to charge the offender with?

Answer 1

In Indiana:

OWI and DUI are the same thing. The individual is operating a vehicle with an amount of alcohol in their system beyond the threshold amount. (example: In Indiana, the alcohol limit is .08)

Operating While Impaired: Indiana also has a lessor charge whereas the person's driving is impaired, but the content of alcohol does not reach the threshold amount.

Note that this can also be applied to other items such as drugs.

Answer 2

Depends on state. Some states only use DUI and some use both. Here is what they both mean:

DUI: Driving Under the Influence: could be anything that impairs your ability to operate a vehicle like alcohol, drugs, or even medication.

OWI: Operating while Intoxicated is just alcohol (in the states that use both - in the states that only use OWI, it means the same as DUI)

Some states also use DWI: Driving While Intoxicated which is the same as OWI

Answer 3

You really need to specify which state. Some use one or the other and mean the pretty mush the same thing. Some states use both and they mean different things. In NJ there is only DUI.