NH DWI DEFINED

New Hampshire defines DWI as driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You must be
in physical control of the vehicle and operating it on a public way. DWI, OUI, and DUI all mean the same
thing. Different states have different acronyms for drunk driving but they are all essentially the same.

Being under the influence is determined by your BAC or blood alcohol level. It is illegal for a person to drive a car with a BAC of .08% or greater. If you drive a commercial motor vehicle for a living such as an 18-wheeler, it is illegal for you to drive the big rig truck with a .04% BAC or greater. Finally, it is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to drive a car with a .02% or greater BAC.

New Hampshire is concerned about your ability to operate a motor vehicle. If that ability is impaired by alcohol, you are technically DWI. That means if you have a .04% BAC (well under the legal limit) but your ability to operate your car was impaired due to alcohol, you could be charged with DWI.