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The commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not allow non-lawyers to prosecute driving under the influence cases. Prosecution is brought by the district attorney or by an assistant working in a prosecutor's office. Getting a license to practice law in Pennsylvania requires three years of law school to obtain a law degree, and passing the state bar exam. Understanding what goes into prosecuting a case, however, not only makes citizens more knowledgeable, it also can help prosecution if the citizen ever gets called as a witness or sits on a jury.
The state of Maryland enforces both driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and driving while impaired (DWI) laws, with specific punishments for both offenses.
Receiving a DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, in Florida has several harsh penalties, varying depending on the number of DUIs for which you've been convicted. In Florida, receiving DWI, or Driving While Intoxicated, has the same penalties as receiving a DUI, depending on often many infractions and whether or not your actions injured someone else. Each charge results in two different actions on behalf of the state: One in court and one at the Division of Motor Vehicles.
The state of Washington has a zero tolerance policy for operating motor vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Therefore, it does not distinguish between driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Nationally, the difference between a DUI and a DWI can vary from state to state, with a DUI , or driving under the influence, arrest meaning a less harsh offense than a DWI, or a driving while intoxicated arrest. Further, some states only differentiate between DUI and DWI as drug-related (DUI) or alcohol-related (DWI) driving arrests. In Arizona, the terms DWI and DUI are interchangeable; both charges can bring serious and life-changing penalties.
Under Pennsylvania law, driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) entail the operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or illegal drugs. In Pennsylvania, the actual phrase used to describe this offense is "driving after imbibing" (DAI). Regardless of the acronym, DUI/DWI represents a serious offense; even first-time violators may face jail time and a loss of driving privileges.
The length of time a conviction will stay on your driving record is important to people who are applying for jobs or for those who have jobs in which their driving record is a part of evaluations. It is also a common factor in the high cost of automobile insurance.
