DUI (Driving Under Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) laws follow certain guidelines and rules that make drunk driving a crime and a punishable offence. Although all the 50 states and the District of Columbia use the same BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) level to determine the crime, the punishments vary from state to state.

If found guilty of driving impaired through alcohol or drugs, the punishment may entail fines, penalties, driving licence revocation, ignition interlock devices, alcohol education programs, community service, freeway cleanup, higher rates of car insurance or jail time.

It is illegal to drive with a BAC level at or above 0.08 percent. This level can be found out by using a breath, blood or urine test. Each state has its own DUI/DWI laws.

The punishment depends on factors like:
State where you were arrested
If you refused to take a BAC level test
What was your BAC level
If this is the first time you have been caught
If there were children with you in the vehicle or in the vicinity
If you were caught speeding
If there was any accident, damage or injury involved

According to DUI laws, the legal consequences of the offence can be:

Licence revocation or suspension: This punishment is regardless of the criminal charges you might face under DUI laws. In 41 states and District of Columbia there are administrative licence suspension laws. Under these laws, if the driver fails or refuses to take a chemical test, his licence is taken away before conviction.

Ignition interlocks: Some states allow offenders to drive only if their vehicles are equipped with ignition interlocks. This gadget looks for traces of alcohol in driver's breath and upon confirmation, it shuts down the ignition.

Vehicle seizure: In some states, drunk driving may entail seizure of the vehicle.

Fines: They vary from state to state. Fines can be anywhere between $200 to $2000 and onwards.

Jail: Repeat offenders are more at risk of inviting a jail term. But that does not mean that a first timer is safe from it as a lot depends on how serious his cases is.

Other punishments include mandatory attendance at alcohol education programs and community service.