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 Vermont, the primary statute governing the operation of vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs is referred to as DUI (Driving Under the Influence). Vermont law prohibits operating any motor vehicle on a highway when a person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or other substance that can impair driving abilities. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Vermont is 0.08% for drivers 21 years and older, 0.02% for drivers under 21, and 0.04% for commercial vehicle drivers. Penalties for DUI offenses in Vermont can include fines, license suspension, and imprisonment, with increased severity for repeat offenses or high BAC levels. Vermont also has implied consent laws, meaning that by operating a vehicle, drivers are deemed to have given consent to chemical tests to determine BAC or the presence of drugs. Refusal to submit to such tests can result in penalties. Additionally, Vermont has BUI (Boating Under the Influence) laws that apply to operating watercraft while intoxicated, with similar prohibitions and penalties as those for DUI.