What is the difference between drunk driving and intoxicated driving?
3 Answers
The differences between drunk driving and intoxicated driving: 1. Different alcohol levels: The standard for drunk driving is when the alcohol content in a person's blood is greater than or equal to 20 milligrams but less than 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters; the standard for intoxicated driving is when the alcohol content in a person's blood reaches or exceeds 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters. 2. Different legal classifications: Drunk driving is considered an illegal act, while intoxicated driving is a criminal offense. 3. Different penalties: For drunk driving of commercial motor vehicles, the penalty includes 15 days of detention, a fine of 5,000 yuan, revocation of the motor vehicle driver's license, and prohibition from obtaining a new driver's license for five years; for intoxicated driving of commercial motor vehicles, the traffic management department of the public security authority will restrain the driver until sober, revoke the motor vehicle driver's license, pursue criminal liability according to the law, and prohibit the driver from obtaining a new driver's license for ten years.
I know many people are confused about the thresholds for drunk driving and intoxicated driving. The key difference lies in blood alcohol concentration: drunk driving is defined as 20 to 80mg/100ml, while intoxicated driving exceeds 80mg/100ml. The penalties also differ significantly. Drunk driving may result in license suspension and fines, whereas intoxicated driving is treated as the crime of dangerous driving, leading to imprisonment and a criminal record. A traffic officer handling accidents once told me that the minimum penalty for intoxicated driving is one month of detention, with more severe cases facing longer sentences. Most critically, the safety risks differ greatly—when intoxicated, drivers essentially lose judgment and are highly prone to fatal accidents. Currently, breathalyzers are used for initial screening during DUI checks. If the reading exceeds 80mg/100ml, the driver is taken to a hospital for blood testing to confirm, with the entire process recorded by law enforcement body cameras—no loopholes to exploit. If you really must drink, call a designated driver. Saving a few bucks isn’t worth gambling your life over.
The distinction mainly depends on the blood alcohol content. 20 to 80 is considered drunk driving, while exceeding 80 is classified as intoxicated driving. The consequences are vastly different. I once helped a friend involved in an accident sort through materials and saw some really tragic cases of intoxicated driving—not only do they face criminal charges but also financial ruin from compensation. For drunk driving, it's mostly fines and a license suspension for a few months, but intoxicated driving always results in license revocation. In terms of danger, when someone reaches the level of intoxicated driving, their reaction time can slow by more than half, and over a hundred meters, they might miss three or four traffic signs, leading to a frighteningly high accident rate. Nowadays, checkpoints at intersections are equipped with two types of testing devices—first a breathalyzer, then a blood test—with data directly synced to the backend, making evidence collection extremely rigorous. Remember, never drive after drinking; hiring a designated driver is the safest option.
