Drinking and driving is a category of criminal offenses evolving drugs or alcohol and a motor vehicle. Offense can range from misdemeanors to a felonies.
Scroll down for a list of offenses
The facts and circumstances involved in your particular case will determine how you are charged . “Aggravators” such as being accused of causing an accident or having a child in the car can effect what drinking and driving crime you are charged with.
Other factors that can determine the offense are the level of alcohol found in your blood, or they type of drug and whether or not it is a legal or illegal substance.
The number of times you have previously been convicted can also have an effect on the charge being a misdemeanor of a felony drinking and driving.
Below is a list of some common drinking and driving cases we defend. Simply click on the heading of each offense to view more information about the criminal offense, elements, defenses, and possible penalties.
OWI Operating While Intoxicated and OWVI Operating While Visibly Impaired
Operating While Intoxicated is probably the most common drinking and driving offense individuals are charged with. This is the standard over the legal limit of a .08 blood alcohol content. The first and second offenses are both misdemeanors.
Operating While Visibly Impaired is the second most common drinking and driving offense our firm deals with on a daily basis. The standard in this case is less than that of OWI and penalties are less severe. The first and second offenses are both misdemeanors.
OWPCS Operating with the presence of a controlled substance or OWPD Operating with the Presence of Drugs
The legislators passed a law in 2003 that makes it illegal to have any amount of a scheduled 1 controlled substance (marijuana) in your system while driving. This is a strict liability offense because of the “any amount” language. A person could have an amount in their system that does not make them drunk or impaired and they could still be found guilty.
Super Drunk or BAC .17 or Higher
Super Drunk is a recently passed drinking and driving offense. If you are found to have a blood alcohol content of .17 of greater (grams per milliliters of blood) you could be charged under the Super Drunk statute. The offense is greater than an Operating While Intoxicated in terms of punishment, fines, etc.
Felony Drinking and Driving or OWI Third Offense
Operating while Intoxicated third offense or any combination of three drinking and driving offenses can result in Felony drinking and driving. The fines, and punishments are substantially increased on an OWI Third offense.
Child Endangerment
Child Endangerment is a drinking and driving offense where the defendant is accused of having a child in the vehicle under the age of 16 years old. The first offense is a misdemeanor but has a more strict punishment than the standard Operating While Intoxicated mentioned above. The second offense is a felony.
Recent Comments