What is the difference between OVI and DUI?
Nearly a third of all traffic deaths in the US involve drunk drivers. Drunk driving is illegal in every state but what’s the difference between OVI and DUI?
One person in the United States was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 39 minutes in 2022 leading to “13,524 people killed in these preventable crashes” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These fatalities represent nearly a third of all traffic deaths in the US annually.
Drunk driving, having a Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC, higher than .08, is illegal in every state in the nation, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, except in Utah where the limit is .05. The most common term used for the offense of drunk driving is DUI, followed by DWI, but some other abbreviations are used. That can matter due to the legal nuances and implications associated with each one.
What is the difference between OVI and DUI?
Drunk driving laws vary from state to state, from what kind of offense it is considered under the law to the penalties applied for those who violate the statutes.
DUI, stands for Driving Under the Influence, and it is commonly interchangeable with DWI, meaning Driving While Intoxicated. However, in states that use both, the latter tends to be a more serious offense.
OVI, which is the abbreviation of Operating a Vehicle Impaired, is used exclusively in the state of Ohio. Unlike the two terms above, it encompasses a broader set of situations than just driving a vehicle. For example, an individual who is found sitting behind the wheel with the keys in the ignition while their vehicle is parked and they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both they can be charged with an OVI violation.
Other states use terms that include OWI (Operating While Impaired) and OUI (Operating Under the Influence). These too have a broader spectrum of what is considered vehicle operation.
These state statutes can even include operating non-traditional vehicles like bicycles, boats or even lawn mowers while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both. These laws may be applied regardless of whether you are on a public street or your private property.