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 California, driving under the influence (DUI) laws prohibit operating a vehicle if a person has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher for drivers of standard passenger vehicles, 0.04% for commercial vehicle drivers, and any detectable amount for drivers under 21. The state also criminalizes the operation of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, or a combination of drugs and alcohol. California Vehicle Code sections 23152 and 23153 outline the specifics of DUI offenses, including penalties which can range from fines, license suspension, DUI education programs, to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense and the number of prior convictions. Additionally, California has laws against boating under the influence (BUI) under Harbors and Navigation Code sections 655, which apply to operating watercraft while intoxicated. The state's DUI laws extend to other motorized and electric transportation devices as well, and law enforcement officers can arrest individuals for operating such devices under the influence.