Massachusetts OUI Definitions

BAC: Blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol content. Measure of the amount of alcohol in a person's bloodstream. Measured with a chemical test.

BAL: Breath alcohol level or blood alcohol level.

If you have been arrested for OUI in or around the Boston or Quincy area, contact a Massachusetts OUI Defense Lawyer at the Law Office of Patrick T. Donovan today!

Breathalyzer: Machine used to measure a driver's blood alcohol content by calculating the amount of alcohol in the lungs.

DUI: Driving under the influence. Can include alcohol or drugs.

DWI: Driving while intoxicated or driving while impaired. Can include alcohol or drugs.

Field Sobriety Test: Group of tests conducted by police officers to establish if a driver is driving while impaired. These tests assess balance, coordination, and the ability of the person to divide his or her attention to more than one task.

Hardship Licsense: License allowed to a driver convicted of drunk driving. Limits driving privileges to driving to and from work.

Ignition Interlock: Machine that is connected to a vehicle's ingition. Checks for the presence of alcohol in the driver. The driver is required to blow into the machine in order for the car to start. If the machine senses alcohol, the car will not start.

Impaired: When relating to drunk driving, impaired means that a person's abilities to drive are diminished.

OUI: Operating under the influence. This term is only used in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Encompssess more than just driving a vehicle. A person can be charged with OUI even if the vehicle is not running.

OWI: Operating while indoxicated.

If you have been arrested for OUI in or around the Boston or Quincy area, contact a Massachusetts OUI Defense Lawyer at the Law Office of Patrick T. Donovan today!