DUI glossary
Short definitions of the terms used in DUI license and court cases.
Actual physical controlHow the Arkansas, Nebraska, Montana and New Jersey statutes use the phrase actual physical control alongside driving or operating a vehicle.Administrative hearingHow Michigan, Missouri and Idaho statutes and a DC DMV page describe the license-review hearing: who holds it, what it covers and how it is conducted.Alcohol concentrationHow the Missouri, Nebraska, Virginia and Montana DUI statutes express alcohol concentration as a measured quantity of alcohol in a sample.ArraignmentWhat an arraignment is in a DUI case, how it differs from the license case, and how state statutes describe early court appearances.CDL disqualificationHow Michigan, Missouri, Montana and Nebraska statutes and PennDOT's driver manual address commercial driving privileges and license sanctions.Chemical testHow statutes in Arkansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Missouri and Virginia address chemical testing of breath, blood, saliva or urine, and test refusals.Hardship licenseArkansas refers to an ignition interlock restricted license, Nebraska to an ignition interlock permit, and Michigan to a court ordering a restricted license.Ignition interlock deviceHow Nebraska, Idaho and Arkansas statutes refer to an ignition interlock device, permit, install requirement and restricted license.Impairment (Under the Influence)What impairment, or being under the influence, means as a basis for a DUI charge, with statutory examples from Nebraska, Virginia, Montana and Arkansas.Lookback periodHow Arkansas, Michigan and Nebraska statutes count earlier events within a window, and how Louisiana's refusal rule turns on prior separate refusals.Motion to suppressWhat a motion to suppress is in a DUI case, how it differs from license review, and how North Carolina and New York statutes address it.Per-se limitHow Missouri, Nebraska, Virginia, Montana and Arkansas statutes define an offense by a measured alcohol concentration at or above a set level.Probable causeHow New Jersey, Nebraska and Arkansas statutes use probable cause, and how Michigan's refusal hearing asks about an officer's reasonable grounds.RefusalHow the statutes of Arkansas, Michigan, Montana and New Jersey treat a person who refuses to submit to a test requested by an officer.ReinstatementPennDOT's restoration requirements explain reinstatement; Missouri order rescission and New Mexico temporary-license extensions are separate mechanisms.RevocationHow Nebraska and New Mexico statutes, DC DMV and PennDOT describe the revocation of a driver's license or privilege to drive.SuspensionHow Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri and Pennsylvania sources describe license suspension, including notice, review and restoration of a driving privilege.Temporary driving permitHow Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska and New Mexico statutes describe temporary permits, dated receipts and temporary licenses.