DWI versus DUI and other tickets

It is scientifically proven that any amount of alcohol consumption impairs your coordination, mental thought process, and reaction time, thus affecting your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Many states, including the state of Missouri, have a zero tolerance law that strictly mandates how police handle certain situations.

What does zero tolerance mean?

A zero-tolerance law means that anyone caught driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit (in Missouri’s case, 0.08%) will automatically be subject to a criminal fine.

This law also severely penalizes any person under the age of 21 who is caught driving under any percentage of the influence of alcohol or drugs. Anyone under the age of 21 who receives this charge could automatically lose their license and be required to attend traffic school.

the different offenses

When you are charged with this crime, there are several different terms that could be used on your criminal ticket. These are: DWI, which stands for driving while intoxicated; DUI, which stands for Driving Under the Influence; and DUID, which stands for driving under the influence of drugs.

Although each of these charges is quite similar to the other two, in that they all encompass some form of illegal driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, the level of severity of the charge differs in certain states. If you live in an area of ​​jurisdiction that classifies these charges separately, here’s what the different charges could mean for you:

the DWI

DWI, or Driving While Intoxicated, is the most serious of the three charges. This charge indicates that the offender was clearly impaired and his blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit.

This charge is very difficult to reduce to a DUI with a plea agreement, as the offender completely disregarded the law and put others in danger.

the DUI

DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, is a slightly less serious charge than DWI. The legal technicality of the term DUI indicates that the person charged with this crime had a lower level of disability than someone charged with DWI.

This charge means that when the offender was stopped, he or she was just over the legal blood alcohol limit. This charge is more likely to be reduced with a plea deal; however, it is highly unlikely that the offender will get away with it.

the DUID

DUID, or Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, is a bit more difficult to categorize as many states have different laws and regulations. No matter what state you are in, it is illegal to operate a vehicle under the age of 21 with a traceable amount of drugs in its system.

Some states have a “per se” law that makes it illegal to operate any type of vehicle with a detectable amount of drugs in it, while others have a zero-tolerance law that could result in license suspension. Although Missouri does not have this law, neighboring states like Illinois do.

Any type of driving under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous and can harm yourself and others. No matter what type of charge you receive, it is very important to acquire legal help. An attorney is much more capable and qualified than you are to deal with these charges, and has a much better chance of getting a charge reduced.