How a DUI in Indiana Can Affect Your Life
People may not believe that driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), drugs (recreational or prescription), or both (DWI) is a severe crime. However, a DUI or DWI in Indiana is, in fact, a criminal offense, and there are significate consequences that will affect your life.
Under Indiana law, you can be charged with a misdemeanor(s) or felony depending on the facts of your case, if this is the first offense or if you have a previous DUI/DWI in Indiana. A DUI or DWI also stays on your permanent criminal record and driving record. However, your charges and criminal record are not the only consequences; there are other reasons why a DUI in Indiana can affect your life.
Read the Post: Can I get my criminal record sealed or expunged in Indiana?
9 Ways a DUI/DWI can affect your life in Indiana
Being charged with a DUI/DWI can affect almost every part of your life, including your job, family and personal life, and finances. If you have recently been arrested for a DUI in Indiana. You must contact a criminal defense attorney in Indiana that will be able to answer any questions, review your case, and provide you with your options.
Typically the first offense of a DUI/DWI results in a misdemeanor; however, there are situations where you can receive a felony, including seriously harming or killing another person, endangering another person’s life, and hitting another vehicle.
Financial hardship
Being charged with a DUI/DWI also means a financial burden, including enormous fines. In addition, depending on the seriousness of your DUI/DWI, you may require monitoring, which means paying for monitoring either on yourself or your vehicle. You also have to pay to reinstate your license, and your car insurance premiums will significantly increase.
Jail time
You could serve up to 30 days in jail for DUI/DWI, with additional days or even years in jail for higher levels of intoxication, the seriousness of your DUI/DWI case, and repeat arrests for DUI/DWI.
Driving privileges
Your license could be suspended for at least six months for a first DUI/DWI. A second DUI could result in a full-year suspension. If you are eligible for a restricted permit, you can drive only to and from work.
Employment
Your employment may also be affected by a DUI/DWI because if you lose your license, you may not easily be able to get to work, travel to meetings, or operate specific machinery, which could result in a loss of employment. In addition, because a DUI/DWI stays on your permanent criminal record, a drunk driving conviction will appear on background checks, closing the door to future opportunities.
Education
Many college and university applications will ask whether a person has been convicted of a crime. If the state where the conviction occurs considers DUI/DWI a crime, a person must answer, “Yes.” Unfortunately, answering “Yes” could cost a person scholarships or other financial aid, making obtaining or completing a degree more difficult.
Professional licenses
The state could deny or revoke the license in response to a DUI/DWI in any profession requiring a state license, including attorneys, nurses, plumbers, electricians, etc.
Immigration status
A person living in the United States, either on a visa or green card, could potentially find themselves in jeopardy of deportation following DUI/DWI conviction.
Travel
If you have a DUI/DWI charge, it could prevent you from traveling to other countries. Many countries will not admit individuals convicted of DUI/DWI or other offenses. These countries include;
- Canada
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
- China
- Japan
Although denial to travel to some of these countries depends on your conviction’s seriousness.
Mental health and personal life
Being convicted of a DUI/DWI can affect your mental health and personal life because of the reason mentioned above. It also prevents you from moving forward and enjoying some of the privileges you once had in your life. In addition, it can cause friction in your relationships, marriage, and your overall negative feelings of regrets you may have.
Hire a Lawyer With Proven DUI/DWI Experience
A DUI conviction can impact your life in a variety of ways. It can affect your employment, professional licenses, and insurability. Please do not make any statements to law enforcement or plead guilty in court until you speak with an experienced DUI lawyer at our firm. For help after a drunk driving arrest in Terre Haute, call the Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm at 812-232-7400 for a free consultation.
