DUI and DWI
Driving under the influence is a crime in every state, and a first arrest usually starts two cases at once: a criminal charge in court and an administrative case against your driver's license.
What Does DUI and DWI Cover?
States use different names — DUI, DWI, OWI, OUI — for the same core offense: driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, or with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more (0.05 percent in Utah). Commercial drivers face a 0.04 limit, and drivers under 21 face zero-tolerance limits. By driving, you are treated as having agreed to chemical testing; refusing a breath or blood test usually brings its own license suspension. Penalties rise with each prior offense, a high BAC, a child passenger or an injury crash.
Testing
Breath, blood and field tests, such as:
Your License
Suspension and getting driving privileges back, such as:
Young Drivers
Special rules for minors and students, such as:
Crashes and Injuries
When someone was hurt, such as:
DUI & DWI Lawyers in Your State
State law decides deadlines, forms and procedure, so start with the state where your matter is. Each page lists local attorneys and the cities where they work.
- Alabama71
- Alaska6
- Arizona98
- Arkansas36
- California291
- Colorado84
- Connecticut51
- Delaware6
- Florida192
- Hawaii17
- Idaho16
- Illinois113
- Indiana55
- Iowa32
- Kansas38
- Kentucky67
- Louisiana24
- New Jersey153
- New York275
- Texas213
When Do You Need a DUI & DWI Lawyer?
Contact a DUI lawyer right after the arrest. In many states you have only 7 to 30 days to request the administrative hearing that can save your license, and that deadline runs separately from the court case.
DUI attorneys usually charge a flat fee, often with a separate price for trial. A lawyer checks the traffic stop, the field sobriety tests and the testing equipment's maintenance records, and can often negotiate a reduced charge or a diversion program for a first offense.
Common Questions
- What does OWI mean?
- What is the implied consent law?
- What is the zero tolerance law?
- What is a red flag law?
- What is a stand your ground law?
- What is an ex post facto law?
- What is battery in law?
- What is conspiracy in law?
- What is criminal law?
- What is double jeopardy?
- What is entrapment?
- What is immunity in law?
- What is Megan’s law?
- What is restitution in law?
Related Practice Areas
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This guide explains general rules in the United States and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines differ by state, and only a licensed attorney can tell you how they apply to your situation.