OWI, DUI, DWI, OVI: What’s The Difference?

Although individual state regulations can vary significantly, the legal limit for drinking and driving in nearly all 50 states is .08 blood alcohol content (BAC), with the exception of Utah, where it is .05.

Aside from that fact, the name of the offense and other specifics in each state differ.

Breakdown of Drunk Driving Abbreviations

• OWI = Operating While Intoxicated
• OVI = Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated
• OMVI = Operating a Motor Vehicle while Impaired
• DUI = Driving Under the Influence
• DUII = Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
• DUII-CS = Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants: Controlled Substances
• DWI = Driving While Intoxicated
• OUI = Operating Under the Influence of intoxicating liquor
• DWAI = Driving While Ability Impaired
• ADWI = Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated

All of these abbreviations mean the same thing — that the person driving was suspected of doing so while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.

Why Do States Use Different Terms for the Same Offense?

Each state writes its own traffic and criminal statutes, and the terminology in those laws reflects choices made by individual state legislatures, often decades apart. Two of the most common variations come down to a single word: “driving” versus “operating.”

States that use “operating” (OWI, OVI, OUI) typically define the offense more broadly. In Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, and Maine, a person can be charged even if the vehicle was not moving, because “operating” can include sitting in the driver’s seat with the engine running or the keys in the ignition. States that use “driving” (DUI, DWI) generally require some evidence that the vehicle was in motion, though the practical difference varies by how courts in each state interpret their statutes.

The word “intoxicants” in Oregon’s DUII reflects a legislative choice to explicitly cover both alcohol and controlled substances under a single statute, rather than creating separate charges. Other states handle the same distinction through separate code sections.

State-By-State Impaired Driving Charge Abbreviations

Most states require a hardship license or an ignition interlock restricted license after you install your IID. Check our state requirements page for specific information on how to get your license back with an ignition interlock device (IID). 

No matter what the charge is, if you need a car breathalyzer, LifeSafer is the best ignition interlock company when it comes to service and convenience.