| Minnesota DWI / DUI Terminology |
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DWI: Driving While Impaired
DUI: Driving Under the Influence
BUI: Boating Under the Influence
OMVI: Operating a Motor Vehicle while Impaired
n: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; color: #333333;">OUID: Operating under the Influence of Drugs
OUIL: Operating Under the Influence of Liquor
OWI: Operating While Impaired
These are all terms that generally refer to the same offense. Each State legislature has adopted its own language. In Minnesota we use the term DWI. The offense of “Driving While Impaired”, or “DWI” is set out in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169A.
BAC: Blood Alcohol Content, usually expressed in a number reflecting the ratio of milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.
BCA: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Responsible for, among other things, forensic testing of samples taken from persons suspected of violating Minnesota DWI laws.
Testing Devices
PBT - Preliminary Breath Test - A PBT is a portable device often carried by police officers in the field. The PBT provide an estimate of blood alcohol concentration. However, due to the nature of the devices and the circumstances under which they are used, PBT results are not ordinarily admissible in court except under special circumstances. Intoxylizer 5000 - A breath analysis device that produces an estimate of blood alcohol concentration based upon infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectrometry is based on the simple premise that all substances have a unique molecular structure. A byproduct of this premise is that all substances absorb various frequencies of infrared light energy in a different and unique pattern. Alcohol appears in its own unique pattern of certain absorbed wavelengths. Urinalysis - Performed by collecting a urine sample in a specimen cup. The procedure generally calls for the person giving the sample be witnessed throughout the porcess to avoid altering or substituting the sample. The sample is then sealed and sent to the BCA for testing. Blood Sample – Blood testing is the most direct way to get information about a person’s blood alcohol concentration based on the theory that alcohol is quickly absorbed into the blood stream. |
