DWI Ticket

Most people are familiar with the acronym DUI or driving under the influence. However, many are probably unfamiliar with its lesser-used counterpart, DWI. DWI stands for driving while intoxicated or driving while impaired. A DWI ticket is another name for a DUI ticket, and the consequences for both are much the same. Every U.S. state has laws in place prohibiting driving a vehicle while intoxicated.

When Is a DWI Ticket Issued?

Drivers can expect to receive a DWI ticket in cases where their blood alcohol levels are at or above the legal limit. If you are driving erratically, or if an officer suspects you have been drinking due to your driving behavior, you may be pulled over. If so, you can be asked to take a Breathalyzer test or blood test to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Refusing a breath or blood test is essentially an admittance of guilt, so in these cases, the best thing to do is cooperate with the officer on duty.

What to Expect When Pulled Over

Apart from a Breathalyzer test, should an officer suspect you of drinking and driving, he or she may ask you to perform road side tests to determine your sobriety level. These tests may include simply touching a finger to the nose and reciting the alphabet backwards. You may also be asked to walk a straight line heel to toe, keeping your hands and arms at your side, or standing on one leg to test balance. If at the end of these tests, you are determined to be intoxicated, you will most likely be issued a DWI ticket and arrested.

How to Resolve a DWI Ticket

Oftentimes, after you are released from jail, you will appear before a judge for your arraignment, where you will plead guilty or not guilty. You can either try to bargain down to a reduced charge or take the charge as it comes. For more advice on what your options are as far as a DWI violation goes, contact a traffic ticket lawyer.