What Are the Penalties for DUI in Indiana?
Being arrested for suspected driving under the influence (DUI) can wreak havoc on your life. If you’re convicted of such a crime, your life can be permanently affected. You might not be able to retain gainful employment, find affordable housing, or get a high-quality education because a DUI conviction will show up on your background check.
You can also expect your car insurance premiums to skyrocket, as insurance companies will consider you a high-risk driver. That’s not to mention that being convicted of a DUI—called operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) in Indiana—is embarrassing and can affect the way you are perceived by your colleagues, friends, and family members.
Continue reading to learn more about the consequences of a DUI conviction in Indiana.
Refusing Sobriety Tests
It is important to note that if you think you can drink and drive and simply refuse to take a sobriety test, whether it’s a blood, chemical, or breath test to avoid punishment, you are mistaken.
Indiana has an implied consent rule that requires every driver who is pulled over or arrested for a suspected DUI to submit to a sobriety test. If you refuse, you can expect to have your license suspended for a minimum of one year if you are a first-time offender and up to two years if you have previously been convicted of a DUI.
Consequences for OWI
If you are convicted of an OWI, your conviction will find a permanent home on your record. A first-time offender can expect to be charged with a misdemeanor and face up to sixty days in jail and $5,000 in fines if his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is between 0.08 and 0.15 percent. Punishments for higher BAC levels are even more severe.
Second- and third-time offenders may spend up to two and a half years in jail and pay up to $10,000 in fines.
Consult a Terre Haute DUI Lawyer
Don’t let a DUI conviction ruin your life. Speak with an experienced Terre Haute DUI lawyer at Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm for help building a powerful defense. Schedule your initial consultation today by filling out the contact form below or by giving our office a call at 1-812-232-7400.
