Building Your Defense: What’s the Difference between DUI and DWI?

Sometimes, making mistakes can change the course of your life for a very, very long time. Such can be the case with DUIs and DWIs if you don’t have a good enough criminal defense built up. Knowing the difference between DUIs and DWIs can make a large difference in the severity of the punishment for driving while influenced by drugs or alcohol.

While a criminal offense attorney will work with you and help you understand the issues at hand, knowing the information yourself will give you the head start you need to prepare a winning defense for your actions. It is important that you are aware of the defenses that you are entitled to get. Make sure to take the help of a criminal defense attorney.

What is a DUI?

DUI is the most commonly used term to refer to impaired driving. It stands for driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol and is, for some states, the only acronym used. In San Antonio, however, and the rest of Texas, DUI and DWI can be either used interchangeably or to denote the severity of the crime.

In states where the two acronyms are used to indicate the severity of the issue, DUI is the lesser of the two crimes. A DUI is used for a person who was less impaired while driving than someone who was given a DWI. In some cases, a guilty plea can be exchanged for reducing the crime from a DWI to a DUI.

What is a DWI?

A DWI stands for driving while intoxicated and typically only refers to moderate to extreme impairment while driving due to alcohol use. Some states have a zero-tolerance policy that simply lumps everything in as a DUI regardless of blood alcohol content.

However, in Texas, the blood alcohol content can be a determining factor while deciding the severity of the punishment from driving under the influence. Your criminal defense attorney will be able to help you understand the Texas laws and how they affect your case.

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities

To get more information regarding your DUI or DWI, the best plan is to meet with a qualified DUI or DWI attorney and talk over your best plan of action. Your attorney will work with you to construct a criminal defense that will give you the best possible outcome for your situation.

There are a multitude of firms that can create criminal defense for you. Check one of them out today!

Based in San Antonio, the a href=http://bdugannelaw.comLaw Office of Brendan Duganne, Pllc develops an effective legal defense based on every customer’s individual needs. We will make sure all your legal rights are protected.