Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a term used for being legally intoxicated or impaired while operating a motor vehicle. This term is mostly used by the states namely California, Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania, wherein the threshold for legal intoxication or impairments is typically when a breath, blood or urine test registers a blood alcohol content of 0.08%. This BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) percentage may be declared lower for minors under the legal drinking age of influence. Similarly, even when the BAC is lower than 0.08%, law enforcement may arrest a motorist declaring him impaired.
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is another term for DUI, which is used in eight states including New York, New Jersey and Texas. While in Ohio, it is denoted as Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated (OVI/OMVI). The acronyms are equivalent in the state of law and represent being charged with drunk driving for the most part of US. However in few circumstances, DWI states may take DUI as a lower offense. According to these states, having a BAC higher than 0.08% would be regarded as DWI and DUI is said to apply to the motorists with a BAC of less than 0.08% who are still deemed to be impaired and thus incapable of driving safely.
There are specific laws for all fifty states and the penalties vary depending upon the nature of DUI offense. DUI.com also provides with the details related to specific laws in all the states. Also, http://www.dui.com/ offers a comprehensive database of DUI attorneys and lawyers along with the information on drivers license and criminal records that helps all those arrested for understanding the drunk driving and its consequences for future employment, medical, financial and other background record investigations. It provides useful, balanced, education and prevention-based information for convicts.