OWI stands for Operating While Impaired. DUI stands for driving under the influence and DWI stands for driving while intoxicated. OWI is typically considered to be a lesser offense to driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated in the District of Columbia. The maximum penalties for Operating While Impaired are lower than the penalties for driving under the influence. Driving under the influence carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail, whereas Operating While Impaired carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail. Those are the main legal differences between driving under the influence and operating while impaired.