Sadly, the simple truth is that tens of millions of people make the decision to operate a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. Doing this not simply puts one's life in danger and puts passengers in danger too, but being caught driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) will usually result in severe penalties including driver's license suspension or cancellation, fines and in many cases incarceration. Quite often a person who has been found guilty of DUI or DWI ultimately struggles with an underlying drug abuse problem. The court system knows this, and it is therefore inclined to offer DUI and DWI Offenders drug and alcohol treatment rather than other severe penalties for their crime. Agreeing or obliging to take part in drug and alcohol rehabilitation as a DUI/DWI Offender might not exactly completely eliminate other penalties from the crime, but could decrease the severity of such penalties to some large degree. Specifically if the person willingly takes part in drug treatment and is also a first time offender. Research indicates that a large percentage of people who do receive drug rehabilitation for a DUI/DWI offense stay out of the courts for comparable charges later on.