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 Tennessee, the primary offense for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is known as Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 55-10-401 states that it is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, narcotic drug, or drug producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Tennessee is 0.08% for drivers 21 years and older, and 0.02% for drivers under 21. Penalties for DUI offenses can include fines, jail time, mandatory drug and alcohol education programs, and the suspension or revocation of the driver's license. For boating, the offense is referred to as Boating Under the Influence (BUI), governed by TCA § 69-9-217, which prohibits operating a vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The BAC limit for BUI is also 0.08%. The state does not use the terms DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), OUI (Operating Under the Influence), or OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) in its statutes.