{"id":286631,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:05","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/dui.html"},"modified":"2025-04-28T10:39:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T15:39:33","slug":"dui","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/dui.html","title":{"rendered":"DUI Law: History and Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
    \n
  1. \n FindLaw <\/a>\n \/<\/span>\n <\/li>\n
  2. DUI Law: History and Overview<\/li>\n <\/ol>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
    \n

    DUI and DWI Law<\/h1>\n

    Driving under the influence of alcohol or other impairing drugs is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Whether your state calls it “driving under the influence” (DUI), “driving while intoxicated” (DWI), or some other name, courts take the charge very seriously and punish accordingly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

    \n \"\"\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n <\/i>\n

    \n Find a Qualified Attorney Near You\n <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
    \n

    Find a Qualified Attorney Near You<\/h2>\n \n Search by legal issue and\/or location\n <\/p>\n \n Enter information in one or both fields. (Required)\n <\/p>\n
    \n \n <\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n \n
    \n \n Find a Lawyer\n <\/h3>\n
    \n \n
    \n \n Legal Issue<\/label>\n
    \n
    \n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n \n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n More Options<\/span>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Name Search\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Legal Issues\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Law Firms\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Support\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n \n \n City, ZIP Code or County\n <\/label>\n
    \n
    \n \n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/i>\n \n Enter either your legal issue or location to continue\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n Find a Lawyer<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/form>\n <\/div>\n \n \n More Options\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n \n \n Name Search\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Legal Issues\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Browse Law Firms\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n \n \n Support\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n

    Understanding DUI Laws<\/h2>\n

    For DUI law purposes, you’re “impaired” if your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is appreciably affected by having consumed alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs.<\/p>\n

    Everyone is affected differently by different substances. As a result,\u00a0per se DUI laws<\/a>\u00a0set measurable legal limits. Being over the limit can lead to a DUI arrest, DUI charges and going through a DUI court procedure. You can find an overview of DUI laws and helpful resources<\/a>, or learn about the topics below.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\n

    \n
    \n
    \n \n\n \n\n
    \n \"\"\n<\/img>\n
    \n <\/i>\n \n DUI Arrests and Stops<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
    \n
    \n \n
  3. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Alcohol Metabolism Rate and DUIs\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  4. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Blood Alcohol Content Test FAQs\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  5. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Can I Refuse a Breath Test?\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  6. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Can I Refuse Field Sobriety Tests?\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  7. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n DUI Checkpoint Laws by State\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Should I Take a Breath Test?<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
    \n \"\"\n<\/img>\n
    \n <\/i>\n \n DUI Charges<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
    \n
    \n \n
  8. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Aggravated DUI\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  9. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Boating Under the Influence\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  10. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Drunk Biking\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  11. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Felony DUI\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  12. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Types of DUI\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Elements of a DUI Offense<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n
    \n \"\"\n<\/img>\n
    \n <\/i>\n \n DUI Cases<\/span>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n\n
    \n
    \n \n
  13. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n DUI Laws & Resources\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  14. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Car Impoundment After a DUI\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  15. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Background Checks With a DUI\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  16. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n Auto Insurance After a DUI\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  17. \n
    \n <\/i>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \n DUI Appeals\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/section>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n Defenses to Drunk Driving<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
    \n
    \n

    DUI State Laws<\/h2>

    In 2000, Congress established a law requiring each state to set the BAC limit at 0.08% and establish the drinking age at 21. However, Utah became an exception when it lowered the state’s BAC limit to 0.05% in 2018.\u00a0You can find the nuances of your state\u2019s laws by using the map below:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

    \n \n Show All States<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/button>\n