There are various criminal charges for operating a motorized, electric, or otherwise-powered transportation device on public roadways or waterways while under the influence of or intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, as defined by state law. DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, and BUI—driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, operating under the influence, operating while intoxicated, and boating under the influence—are some of the common names for such impaired-driving or impaired-operating criminal offenses.

Laws regarding the definitions and names of such alcohol and drug-related driving offenses vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal code or criminal code.

In Arkansas, the primary laws governing the operation of vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are found under the state's DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) statutes. Arkansas law prohibits operating a motor vehicle if a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. For commercial drivers, the limit is 0.04%, and for those under the age of 21, it is 0.02%. The state also has an Implied Consent Law, which means that by driving on Arkansas roads, drivers consent to submit to a chemical test for the purpose of determining the alcohol or drug content in their blood. Refusal to submit to a chemical test can result in license suspension. Penalties for DWI offenses can include fines, jail time, community service, and mandatory alcohol education programs. Additionally, Arkansas has laws against Boating Under the Influence (BUI), which apply to operating watercraft while intoxicated. The BAC limit for BUI is also 0.08%, and the penalties can include fines, jail time, and boating license suspension.