DUI Consequences in Indiana

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a very serious offense in Indiana and the rest of the United States that brings with it very serious consequences.

There are two terms often used to indicate motorists who drive under the influence of either alcohol, drugs or both and have been arrested:

• DUI: Driving under the influence
• OWI: Operating while intoxicated

Alcohol and its effects varies from person to person and it is often times difficult to put a number on how many drinks one is allowed to have before being over the legal limit. Many people don’t realize that even if a person even feels slightly intoxicated, there is a good chance that they are already past that legal limit to be able to drive a vehicle.

In Indiana, if a person has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or more, that person is considered to be legally drunk. For commercial drivers the legal limit decreases to .04%. For people under the age of 21, the legal limit drops down to .02%.

If a person is driving and their actions lead to suspicion of possible drunk driving, a police officer can pull them over and run a test in order to determine what their BAC currently is. Many people wonder whether or not they are simply allowed to refuse to take the test. The answer to this question is yes, however their license will be taken away on the spot and there is a likely chance their license could be suspended for a full year.

If the person does take the test and are over the legal limit, their license will be lost for 180 days even before they end up in court. If they end up actually being convicted of a DUI or OWI, their license can be revoked for an additional 90 days and up to two full years, in addition to potentially having to pay fines and even go to jail.

It is important to take note that if a person has multiple previous DUI convictions, there are much harsher consequences. If a person has been charged with two DUI’s within ten years that resulted in either injury or death, a revoked license of up to ten years is a likely penalty. If a person has caused been involved in two DUI’s that caused death, that person will lose their license indefinitely.

Contact a Skilled Fort Wayne DUI Lawyer

As you can see, a DUI or OWI conviction can lead to very serious and life-altering consequences including license suspension, fines and even jail time. Learn how you can protect yourself by fighting for your rights with the help of an attorney by calling The Bellinger Law Office at 260-428-2214.