Driving Under the Influence (DUI):

Although the charge is commonly referred to as drunk driving, the fact is that "driving" is not necessarily involved and one need not be "drunk," within the usual meaning of the word. A person who is in actual physical control of a vehicle need not be driving to be arrested if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Simply sitting behind the wheel of a parked car with the ignition keys in your pocket can satisfy the driving part of the offense. To most people, the term "drunk" refers to someone who is staggering, incapable of coherent speech, etc., but this is not the standard for a DUI offense. If a person's physical and mental abilities are sufficiently impaired by alcohol that he or she no longer has the ability to drive a car safely, a DUI prosecution may follow. There is no need for any objective symptoms of intoxication, and even a driver who does not appear to be impaired to any extent at all can still be prosecuted for DUI if the concentration of alcohol in his or her blood is .08% or more.