DUI (driving under the influence) and DWI (driving while impaired) law is the body of law that makes up criminal drunk driving and impaired driving charges.
Any law that penalizes driving under the influence or driving with an unlawful bodily content of alcohol or drugs is a DUI / DWI law.
DUI / DWI law involves both prosecuting and defending against cases of drunk driving.
There Are Several Ways to Be a Drunk Driver
In all 50 U.S. states, DUI / DWI law is a combination of several laws.
To put it simply, there’s more than one way to be a drunk driver.
One DUI / DWI law in all 50 states is that it’s illegal to drive with an unlawful bodily alcohol content.
That means it’s illegal to drive with too much alcohol in your system based on the concentration of alcohol in your blood, breath, or urine.
A chemical test can measure a driver’s substance levels and determine whether they’re out of compliance with the law.
If a driver is over the legal limit, it doesn’t matter if the alcohol influences their ability to drive.
In most states, the legal limit is .08 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
However, in some states, the legal limit may be even lower.
Another way to be a drunk driver is to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In the case of driving under the influence charge, the state must prove that because of the use of alcohol or drugs, the person driving isn’t able to operate their vehicle in a normal manner.
The driver doesn’t have to get in a crash.
Unlike a charge for operating with unlawful bodily alcohol content, a DUI / DWI under the influence charge doesn’t require any specific bodily alcohol content.
A person can be under the legal limit and still in violation of the law if the alcohol or drugs influence their ability to drive.
DUI / DWI Law With Drugs Is a Developing Area of Law
As more and more states legalize recreational and medical marijuana, states are grappling with how to establish laws to protect society from drugged drivers.
While all states have a legal limit for alcohol, states have addressed the question of drugged driving in different ways.
Some states have set a legal limit for each drug like the legal limits for alcohol.
These states say that while the science relating to drugged driving may still be developing, it’s still important to have legal standards for prohibited conduct that are meant to protect society.
Other states believe that’s too simplistic of an approach.
They say that while scientific data shows a point where most people are too intoxicated from alcohol to drive, drug intoxication is not as clear.
DUI / DWI law for drug use varies by state.
An attorney who practices DUI / DWI law must understand the law in their state and be wary of any changes as they occur.
DUI / DWI and Driver’s License Laws
DUI / DWI law often intertwines with driver licensing laws.
A DUI / DWI conviction can come with a license suspension.
For repeat offenders, a conviction can result in a driver’s license suspension that lasts one year or even lasts until the driver can prove that they’re unlikely to re-offend.
Practicing DUI / DWI law successfully means helping clients understand the full ramifications of a conviction.
In addition to facing a license suspension, a person convicted of drunk driving also faces a hefty fine and a term on probation where they may be ordered to refrain from using drugs or alcohol with or without testing to monitor compliance.
Constitutional Law Intertwines With DWI / DUI Law
The practice of DUI / DWI also involves constitutional law.
DUI / DWI investigations may be routine, but they are also one of the more complex investigations that road patrol police officers ever do.
A police officer may only legally stop a vehicle if they have reasonable, articulable suspicion that criminal activity might be happening.
It’s not enough that they have a hunch that someone may be a drunk driver.
Even if they turn out to be right if the officer can’t explain what reasonable belief they have that the person is breaking the law, the defendant can ask the court to suppress the evidence against them and ultimately get the case dismissed.
There are also limitations on when an officer can conduct field sobriety tests and what they must do in order to lawfully demand that a suspect take a chemical test like a breathalyzer or DataMaster.
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys must be wary of constitutional issues when they practice DUI / DWI.
Prosecution and Defense Are Both Critical Parts of DUI / DWI Law
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys can be DUI / DWI attorneys.
A prosecutor reads a DUI / DWI report by a police officer and decides whether to authorize charges.
A defense attorney examines a DUI / DWI charge and makes a plan to defend their client.
Practicing DUI / DWI law requires significant knowledge of the procedures used in a DUI / DWI investigation.
As a prosecutor, an attorney must know what elements they need to prove in order to show each element of the offense.
Each state has rules for admitting the results of a chemical test into evidence.
The rules can vary greatly between states.
Making sure the officer follows proper procedures for field sobriety testing can help protect constitutional rights and ensure that a prosecutor brings only cases that are supported by sound evidence.
The prosecutor must know the rules of criminal procedure in order to successfully bring a case through trial.
The defense attorney must know how to review a DUI / DWI charge for defenses.
They must explore the case for errors in field sobriety testing, for example.
There are only three standardized field sobriety tests, and the police must administer them according to protocol.
A defense attorney can use errors or deviations from protocol as a way to poke holes in the prosecution’s case.
They can also review the case for chemical testing errors and even examine the case to counter chemical evidence with expert witnesses.
A DUI / DWI helps the client examine the case from all sides.
They must determine the best plan to resolve the case for their client whether it’s to go to trial or try and arrange for a plea agreement to lesser charges.
Who Practices DUI / DWI Law?
DUI / DWI lawyers are criminal lawyers. Some attorneys specialize in DUI / DWI alone, but most lawyers combine the practice with a general criminal practice.
Because drunk driving law is state-specific, it’s common for a DUI / DWI attorney to practice in one, local area.
If an attorney specializes in a certain type of DUI / DWI law like marijuana law or a certain type of drug, they may have a statewide practice.
A local practice helps lawyers learn the common penalties for drunk driving in order to properly advise their clients on what they can expect from each possible strategy.
Why Become a DUI / DWI Lawyer?
For lawyers who like trial work, DUI / DWI can be a challenging and fun area of practice.
DUI / DWI lawyers are trial lawyers, and the area of law comes with the opportunity to try cases frequently.
Lawyers have routine trips to court for their cases.
For lawyers who don’t want to sit behind a desk all day, DUI / DWI law offers the hustle and bustle that can make the practice of law interesting from day to day.
DUI / DWI lawyers work directly with clients to help them build their case, present it effectively, and understand the ramifications of each possible course of action.
The area of law can provide a steady foundation to build a practice as a solo practitioner or with the largest law firms.
DUI / DWI lawyers live and work in large cities, small towns, and everywhere in between.
DUI / DWI Law Can Provide a Balanced Legal Practice
DUI / DWI law is trial law, but it also involves investigations, negotiations, and constitutional law.
For lawyers who want to be on their feet traveling to the courthouse and appearing in court, DUI / DWI law provides a great opportunity for a lively practice of law.
DUI / DWI lawyers both prosecute and defend cases.
While most combine the area of law with a broader criminal practice, some DUI / DWI lawyers specialize in a niche type of DUI / DWI defense.
This law can vary from state to state, and legal consequences can range from minor infractions to serious felonies, depending on factors like prior offenses and the severity of impairment.
DUI/DWI law aims to protect public safety by setting limits on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and establishing penalties for those who violate them.