What Do DWI (or DUI) And DWAI Mean In New York City?
DUI (Driving Under Intoxication) and DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) can, in most cases, be used interchangeably to describe the same charge. Some states use DUI while others use DWI. New York State, and thus the five boroughs of New York City, use DWI. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a driver can be charged with DWI when they are found to have been operating a vehicle with:
A Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
or other evidence of intoxication
A BAC of 0.04% or higher if you are operating a commercial vehicle
, like a truck
A BAC of 0.02% or higher if you are younger than 21
As you may have noticed, DWI is used only in reference to drivers charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol in your blood. In most cases, a police officer will observe erratic or abnormal driving behavior, pull the driver over, and administer a blood alcohol test.