DUI DWI OWI OUI

Is there a difference between a DUI, DWI, OWI and OUI? If so, what's the difference?

differentiating drunk driving charges

DUI: Driving Under The Influence (of alcohol or other chemical substances). A DUI is a drunk driving charge under the State of Alaska Criminal Code. There is a separate drunk driving crime called a Felony DUI.

DWI: Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Impaired, Driving While Under The Influence (of alcohol or other chemical substances). Both the State of Alaska Code and the Anchorage Municipal Code referred to drunk driving charges as DWI previously; the term has changed for both the state and Anchorage.

OUI: Operating While Under The Influence (of alcohol or other chemical substances). A drunk driving charge under the Anchorage Municipal Code is referred to as an OUI, operating while under the influence.

OWI: Operating While Intoxicated, Operating While Impaired, Operating a motor vehicle While Under The Influence (of alcohol or other chemical substances). Alaska laws do not use the term "OWI."

Alaska Drunk Driving Laws

Under Alaska drunk driving laws, if the Municipality of Anchorage charges a person with a drunk driving offense, it is called an "OUI" under the Municipal Code.

When a person is charged with a drunk driving offense outside of the municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, the charge is called a "DUI" under the State of Alaska Code.

Under the State of Alaska Code, a drunk driving offense was called a DUI until about 5 years ago, and it was called a DUI under both State of Alaska Code and the Anchorage Municipal Code until about two years ago. For many years prior to these changes, drunk driving offenses were referred to as DWI under both state and municipal codes.

Felony DUI is a separate crime charged as a Felony offense. A DUI or OUI is charged as a Misdemeanor.

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