D.W.I. Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of D.W.I., written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is D.W.I.?

n. 1) Abbreviation for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. 2) Abbreviation for dying without issue (e.g. children.

short for “Driving While Intoxicated” again the common usage is for drunk driving. Another usage is “Driving While Impaired” wherein the impairment is regarded to come from even low levels of alcohol consumption; as low upto 0.05 BAC for drivers. Numerical limits vary for pilots, boatman, etc.

History and Meaning of D.W.I.

DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) is a criminal offense where a person operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. While the legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) limit for DWI varies from state to state, it is typically set at 0.08%. Driving under the influence of drugs is also a DWI in most states.

Examples of D.W.I.

Example 1: John was arrested for DWI after he was caught driving with a BAC of 0.10%.

Example 2: Lisa was charged with DWI after she caused an accident while driving under the influence of drugs.

Example 3: Mark lost his driver's license for a year after being convicted of DWI for the second time.

Example 4: The state of California has strict penalties for DWI, including jail time, fines, and mandatory participation in a DUI program.

Legal Terms Similar to D.W.I.

  1. DUI (Driving Under the Influence) - Similar to DWI, DUI is the crime of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

  2. OUI (Operating Under the Influence) - Similar to DWI and DUI, OUI is used in some states to refer to the crime of operating a vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

  3. OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) - Similar to DWI and DUI, OWI is used in some states to refer to the crime of operating a vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.