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 Wisconsin, the term for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is Operating While Intoxicated (OWI). Wisconsin Statutes section 346.63 prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by a person who is under the influence of an intoxicant, has a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood, or has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more. The law also covers operating a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration as specified for the individual, which may be lower for commercial drivers and individuals under the age of 21. Additionally, Wisconsin has an 'implied consent' law, meaning that by operating a motor vehicle, drivers are deemed to have given consent to chemical testing for alcohol or drugs if suspected of impaired driving. Refusal to submit to testing can result in penalties. For operating a watercraft under the influence, the state enforces Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws, which are similar to OWI laws but pertain to the operation of boats and other watercraft.