DUI Attorneys Schererville

If you have been charged with DUI, the consequences of a conviction are too significant not to proceed with legal counsel on your side. The loss of your driver’s license alone can upend the rhythm of your daily life, and that is the tip of the iceberg. If you are facing a DUI charge, don’t wait to discuss your case with an experienced DUI attorney in Schererville. 

Terminology

In Indiana, the law uses the terminology operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) instead of driving under the influence (DUI), which is what most people continue to call the charge. In other words, you may be facing a charge of OWI, but the consequences – which can be quite serious – remain the same.

Your Arrest

In order for the officer to pull you over in the first place, he or she needs a reason to suspect you of being under the influence or of having committed a driving infraction, which can be something as simple as forgetting to dim your high beams or something as significant as weaving in and out of your lane in a telltale manner. Once you’ve been stopped, however, the officer needs probable cause before asking you to take a test that measures your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Probable cause means that you’ve done something that makes the officer believe it’s probable that you are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Smelling like alcohol, having bloodshot eyes, or having driven erratically in the first place will suffice. 

Over the Limit

As with nearly every other state in the nation, if your BAC reaches or exceeds the limit of .08 percent in Indiana, you can be charged with DUI. It is important to recognize here, however, that if the officer believes your driving is impaired by alcohol, you can face a DUI charge while under the limit.    

A First Conviction

If you receive a first DUI (or OVI) conviction, you face all the following legal fines and penalties in the State of Indiana:

• Up to one year in jail and up to $5,000 in fines (although first offenses rarely receive these maximum sentencing requirements)
• Considerable court costs and fees
• A license suspension of up to two years (the minimum suspension is 30 days plus an additional probationary period of 180 days in which you can drive only for job-related purposes)
• Attendance at a victim-impact panel
• Probation and its attendant terms
• The cost of attending a substance abuse education course
• The requirement of submitting to urine testing for drugs and alcohol

From here, the fines and penalties can increase considerably, and this is not to mention the social consequences, such as a loss in overall social standing.